Abstract:
A surface cleaning device comprising a cleaning element, optionally with an impermeable barrier between wetting and drying parts. The cleaning element may be supported by a main body, e.g., an elongated tubular form, having at least one main body hole for fluid to flow through it to the cleaning element. An inner body has at least one inner body hole and is slideable relative to the main body, in response to finger pressure and preferably an opposing biasing means, between a neutral position and a dispensing position. In the dispensing position, the locations of the inner body and main body allow fluid to flow from the inner body hole into the main body hole. In the neutral position, a seal is formed at least in part by the fit between the inner body and the main body for substantially preventing the flow. Preferably, a stopping component limits outward movement and anti-twist features resist twisting of the inner body relative to the main body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/081,387, which was filed on Jul. 16, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a self-contained cleaning device that can be held and operated by an individual using one hand, for cleaning smooth surfaces, particularly but not exclusively surfaces such as screens on portable personal items. 
     Many portable personal items have smooth surfaces, which typically become dirty and require cleaning from time to time. Examples of such items include handheld electronic devices such as computers, game and/or video players, personal data assistants, cameras, and cellular phones which have screens that are smooth and typically flat or slightly convex. Many such screens are now being made quite small for enhancing their portability, which can make them difficult to clean. Other examples of such items would include eye glasses (often made of material other than glass) and containers for such things as makeup, business cards, or cigarettes, which have surfaces that are smooth and flat enough for allowing them to be wiped by a cleaning element such as a soft cloth, sponge, or other material that is effective for cleaning the surface without unduly abrading it. Unfortunately, to be most effective for cleaning, the cleaning element generally must be wetted with some form of cleaning fluid comprising a solution that is useful for enhancing the cleaning of the surface. This makes it difficult to carry such cleaning element for ready use unless one also carries a separate container to either hold the pre-wetted cleaning element or to hold the fluid for dispensing it onto (which as used herein includes “into”) a dry piece of the cleaning element (thus wetting it) just before it is to be used (thereafter presenting a disposal problem). The convenience, ease, and appeal of cleaning such surfaces could be significantly enhanced if it could be done using a single self-contained handheld surface cleaning device. 
     It is believed that the present invention offers advantages over previous ideas for devices that help individuals clean surfaces of portable personal items. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     As used throughout this specification, unless clearly indicated otherwise, the following terms have the definitions referred to or specified in this paragraph. Terms of direction, relative time, relative position, angular position, orientation, and shape are not intended to be limited to the exact direction, relative time, relative position, angular position, orientation, or shape referred to but are intended to be inclusive of approximations and substantial similarities to those directions, relative times, relative positions, angular positions, orientations, and shapes. The term “such as” is intended to suggest an example, without limitation to only that example. References to a thing occurring “while” something else occurs are not intended as a requirement that the thing be occurring for the entire time the something else occurs. The term “herein” is intended to include the drawings as well as the other sections of this specification (including the claims). 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, it is a handheld surface cleaning device, wherein the device comprises a cleaning element for cleaning at least a portion of a cleanable surface of another item (for example, a screen of a handheld electronic device, such as a cellular phone, camera, computer, PDA, or video/music player; lenses of a pair of eye glasses; or, a shiny/reflective surface of a case for carrying personal items such as makeup, jewelry, or cigarettes). As an added convenience, the cleaning device may be connected (or connectable) for example to the other item or to the individual (or the clothing of the individual) who is carrying the other item, e.g., via a lanyard, cord, chain, or strap, the cleaning device preferably comprising an attachment hole through which a strap or other connecting piece such as a clip or ring can pass in order to facilitate such attachment. The cleaning element has an element inner surface and an element outer surface and comprises a wetting part, the wetting part being capable of absorbing a cleaning fluid through the element inner surface and communicating the fluid to the element outer surface for application of the fluid onto the cleanable surface. Preferably, the cleaning element also comprises a drying part, which may optionally be separated, at least partially, from the wetting part by, for example, an impermeable barrier. (The cleaning fluid may be any available cleaning solution, whether one of the many commercially available fluid based detergents or a self-made solution, preferably a highly volatile one, such as, for example, 90 percent isopropyl alcohol, 5 percent white wine vinegar, and 5 percent lemon juice. The persistence and dissipation area of the fluid within the cleaning element may be significantly affected by the volatility of the fluid used and amount dispensed during any particular use of the cleaning device. Thus, those factors may be considered in determining the need or desirability of including an impermeable barrier, which is an option discussed herein for separating a wetting part of the cleaning element from a drying part of the cleaning element.) Preferably, the element outer surface can be rubbed against the cleanable surface, with aid of the fluid applied to the cleanable surface, for cleaning the cleanable surface without destroying (by, e.g., abrasion) the intended utility and/or attractiveness of the cleanable surface, such as its smoothness, transparency, shininess, and/or reflectivity. There are many available materials having the qualities outlined above that can be used for making the cleaning element, such as any soft (preferably also strong, durable, and supple), liquid-permeable cloth (such as terrycloth, felt, and other types of cloth that are commercially available for substantially abrasion-free cleaning of glass and/or plastic), as well as sponge or chamois material. 
     Such application of fluid may result in residual fluid being left on the cleanable surface. Therefore, again, preferably, the cleaning element also includes a drying part, the drying part being capable of drying (such as by absorbing and/or adsorbing) at least some of the residual fluid from the cleanable surface. The drying part may be made of any material that is capable of absorbing and/or adsorbing at least a portion of the fluid from the cleanable surface, which material may be the same as the material used for making the wetting part. And, optionally, the drying part may be separated from the wetting part by a substantially impermeable barrier (also referred to herein simply as an impermeable barrier and meaning a barrier of material that may, for example, be adhered to the edges of two pieces of material where they are joined together, and that at least impedes the flow of the fluid from the material on one side of the barrier to the material on the other side of the barrier). The cleaning element should be sufficiently soft and/or pliable for at least part of the cleaning element to substantially conform to the shape of at least a portion of the cleanable surface. 
     According to said aspect, the cleaning device also comprises a main body wherein the main body provides a structure for supporting the cleaning element, the main body preferably being in direct contact with at least part of the element inner surface. Preferably, the main body has an elongated tubular form onto which the cleaning element can be placed to form a sleeve about the main body. Although, it is believed preferable for the sleeve to completely surround a portion of the main body (as would a full sleeve), alternatively, the sleeve may be one that does not fully surround any portion of the main body, such as a sleeve that is not fully closed (e.g., a sleeve split and separated along its length). And, the main body comprises a main body hole (preferably at least two main body holes) through its side for allowing passage of the fluid from inside the main body to at least a portion of the cleaning element inner surface on the outside of the main body. 
     Also according to said aspect, the cleaning device comprises an inner body having within it a reservoir for holding at least some of the fluid (“holding” not requiring that the fluid be held permanently since the object is for the inner body to dispense at least some of the stored fluid while the cleaning device is in a dispensing configuration), with the base of the inner body (also referred to herein as the inner base) located within the main body and with an exposed portion of the inner body (also referred to herein as the inner body stem) extending outward from the main body. Preferably, a knob, which may have any shape against which finger pressure may be applied, is attached to (which includes a knob that is made as an integral part of) the outer (distal) end of the stem. And, preferably, at least a portion of the reservoir is located between the inner base and the knob. 
     The inner body is slideable longitudinally (inwardly and outwardly) relative to the main body, between a neutral position and a dispensing position. Preferably, the cleaning device also comprises a biasing means, such as a spring or other available compressible and/or expandable elastic item or substance, which is located and operable for resisting movement of the inner body from the neutral position toward the dispensing position but which resistance can be overcome by finger pressure against the knob to accomplish said movement (preferably, the resistance could be overcome by a modest amount of pressure such as the amount needed to produce a longitudinal force on the inner body of less than two pounds), and which tends to return the inner body from the dispensing position to the neutral position upon removal of said finger pressure. 
     The inner body comprises an inner body hole (preferably, at least two inner body holes with, again preferably, an inner body hole associated with each main body hole) through its side, the inner body hole being positioned for overlapping at least part of the main body hole with which it is associated while the inner body is in a dispensing position. Preferably, the fit between the inner body and the main body is sufficiently tight, and/or supplied with a grease or other available fluid-resistant lubricant, whether man-made or natural such as possibly beeswax (at least in the vicinity of the inner body hole(s)) for substantially preventing the flow of fluid from the inner body hole(s) into the main body hole(s) while the inner body is in a neutral position. A neutral position being any position of the outwardly-extended positions of the inner body (positions where the inner body hole(s) do not overlap and are positioned longitudinally outward of their respective associated main body hole(s)), thus a position at which the inner body can rest (relative to the main body) while there is no intent for it to dispense fluid. Preferably, the device includes a stopping component for both preventing the inner body from excessive longitudinal outward movement and holding the inner body at a selected neutral position relative to the main body. The stopping component preferably comprises a main body protrusion (preferably an annular, or partially annular, shoulder) extending radially inwardly from its inside wall and into the path of a protrusion such as an annular flange extending radially outwardly from the inner body base. Thus, when not intending to dispense fluid into the cleaning element, the inner body is simply allowed to remain (such as by the urging of the biasing means) in the neutral position; and, when intending to so dispense fluid, the inner body is pressed longitudinally inwardly (which should be possible for most users by holding and pressing the device between the forefinger and thumb) until an inner body hole at least partially overlaps an associated main body hole, which opens a path for communication of the fluid from the reservoir into the cleaning element. 
     And, preferably, the device is resistant to the inner body twisting relative to the main body, to help prevent misalignment circumferentially between the inner body holes and their respective main body holes. In accordance with the above noted aspect, the device includes anti-twist features (e.g., a part or set of parts, also referred to as anti-twist parts) for allowing the inner body and main body to be slideably engaged with one another to move (relative to each other) in only the longitudinal direction. Thus, in accordance with this aspect, the anti-twist features may include one, or both if so desired, of two means for resisting such twisting. The device may have a pin (also referred to as a rod) and a longitudinal groove (also referred to as a slot), such as a pin protruding radially out from the inner body wall and slideably engaging a longitudinal slot in the inner wall of the main body (or, the roles may be reversed, with the pin protruding from the main body inner wall into a longitudinal slot in the inner body). And/or, the device may have an inner body and a main body with oppositely matching non-circular shaped (as viewed through a transverse cross section) sidewalls where they interface one another. Either of these sets of anti-twist features can operate to resist the tendency for the inner body to twist relative to the main body. 
     It should be understood that the foregoing summary of one or more aspects and/or embodiments, or any of their parts, is not intended to limit any of the claims, which are based on the overall disclosure herein and limited only by the claims themselves and their equivalents. The present invention is intended to include all aspects, embodiments, and uses of it that are consistent with the disclosures herein, without limitation to the specific aspects and embodiments described or shown herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be more clearly understood by reference to this specification in view of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment (based on the alternate embodiment referred to in  FIG. 19 ) of the present invention, shown held by hand. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 , shown held by hand and about to be used on the screen of an electronic device. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 3  as seen through section cut I-I, shown with the inner body in a neutral position (although not the only possible neutral position for this embodiment, it is used for convenience as the basis for references herein to this embodiment being in the neutral position). 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 3  as seen through section cut I-I, shown with the inner body in a dispensing position (same parenthetical note as in above reference to  FIG. 4  except “neutral position” is replaced by “dispensing position”). 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the embodiment in  FIG. 3 , shown without its cleaning element. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the embodiment in  FIG. 6 , shown without its cleaning element and without its main body. 
         FIG. 8  is a right side view of the embodiment in  FIG. 3 , shown lying horizontally with the inner body in the neutral position. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 , shown with the inner body in the neutral position. 
         FIG. 10  is a right side view of the embodiment in  FIG. 8 , shown with the inner body in the dispensing position with phantom lines included as a reference to the neutral position. 
         FIG. 11  is a back view of the embodiment in  FIG. 8 , shown with the inner body in the dispensing position with phantom lines included as a reference to the neutral position. 
         FIG. 12  is a right side cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 9  as seen through section cut I′-I′, shown lying horizontally with the inner body in the neutral position. (Note that section cut I′-I′ shown in  FIG. 9  is the same as section cut I-I shown in  FIG. 3 , except each of those figures shows it from a different viewpoint). 
         FIG. 13  is a right side cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 11  as seen through section cut III′-III, shown with the inner body in the dispensing position. 
         FIG. 14  is a front cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 10  as seen through section cut II-II, shown with the inner body in the dispensing position. 
         FIG. 15  is a transverse cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 10  as seen through section cut IV-IV (a transverse cut). 
         FIGS. 16-18  are transverse cross-sectional views of examples of alternative embodiment cross-sectional shapes, as they would be seen through section cut IV-IV in  FIG. 10  if the embodiment in  FIG. 10  were changed from a circular transverse cross-sectional shape to one of the non-circular alternative transverse cross-sectional shapes shown and had no impermeable barrier. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention having a transverse cross-sectional shape similar to that shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 19A  is a perspective view of an embodiment substantially similar to that in  FIG. 19 , but shows a version of  FIG. 19  that illustrates an embodiment of the invention with a cleaning element that does not include an impermeable barrier and does not protrude beyond the outer extents of the main body pieces at the top and bottom of the cleaning element (which are the main body base at its bottom, and the bushing, at its top). 
         FIG. 20  is a front view of the embodiment in  FIG. 19  lying horizontally, shown with the inner body in a neutral position (although not the only possible neutral position for this embodiment, it is used for convenience as the basis for references herein to this embodiment being in the neutral position). 
         FIG. 21  is a right side view of the embodiment in  FIG. 20 , shown with the inner body in the neutral position. 
         FIG. 22  is a front view of the embodiment in  FIG. 20 , shown with the inner body in a dispensing position (same parenthetical note as in above reference to  FIG. 20  except “neutral position” is replaced by “dispensing position”), with phantom lines included as a reference to the neutral position. 
         FIG. 23  is a right side view of the embodiment in  FIG. 22 , shown with the inner body in the dispensing position, with phantom lines included as a reference to the neutral position. 
         FIG. 24  is a front cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 21  as seen through section cut V-V, shown lying horizontally with the inner body in the neutral position. 
         FIG. 25  is a transverse cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 24  as seen through section cut VIII-VIII. 
         FIG. 26  is a right side cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 24  as seen through section cut VII-VII, shown lying horizontally with the inner body in the neutral position. 
         FIG. 27  is a transverse cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 26  as seen through section cut IX-IX. 
         FIG. 28  is a front cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 22  as seen through section cut VI-VI, shown lying horizontally with the inner body in the dispensing position. 
         FIG. 29  is a transverse cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 28  as seen through section cut XI-XI. 
         FIG. 30  is a right side cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 28  as seen through section cut X-X, shown lying horizontally with the inner body in the dispensing position. 
         FIG. 31  is a transverse cross-sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 30  as seen through section cut XII-XII. 
         FIG. 32  is a perspective view of the embodiment in  FIG. 19  (with the direction of the view being from the back upper-right rather than from the front upper-right as in  FIG. 19 ), shown without its cleaning element. 
         FIG. 33  is a perspective view of the embodiment in  FIG. 19  (with the direction of view the same as in  FIG. 32 ), shown without its cleaning element and without its main body (except for the main body base). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in a generic form of a handheld surface cleaning device  10  shown suitably sized for being held by a human hand  12  in a position for applying finger pressure against each of the two lateral ends of the cleaning device  10 , which, when so applied in sufficient amount (preferably requiring less than the amount needed to generate a compressive force of two pounds on the cleaning device  10 ) can cause a portion of the cleaning element  20  to become wetted as further described below. In  FIG. 2 , the hand  12  is shown holding the cleaning device  10  close to a cleanable surface  15 , such as a screen, on another item  17 , such as a portable electronic device (for example, a multi-function cellular phone), for cleaning the cleanable surface  15  by rubbing it (preferably while the cleaning device is wetted) against said cleanable surface  15 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of the cleaning device (which embodiment is referred to herein as first cleaning device  10 A) is shown with an outer sleeve of a cleaning element  20  which, although optional, is shown in this embodiment divided into a wetting part  30  and a drying part  40 , separated by an impermeable barrier  50 .  FIG. 3  also shows this embodiment with a bushing  60  located at the top edge of the cleaning element  20  and forming a collar-like piece through which a portion of an inner body  70  (shown more fully in, e.g.,  FIGS. 4-7 ) extends longitudinally, with the inner body  70  shown capped by a knob  80  for receiving application of pressure by a human finger (as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). As shown in  FIG. 3 , the knob has an attachment hole  90  through which a strap or other connecting piece such as a clip or ring can pass in order to facilitate attachment of the first cleaning device  10 A to something else, such as to the person who will be using the first cleaning device  10 A (or to his/her clothing) or, if so desired, to another item  17  that is, for example, to be cleaned frequently using the first cleaning device  10 A. 
     In the cross-sectional views shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  (as well as in  FIGS. 12-14 , and for an embodiment having a different transverse cross-sectional shape  FIGS. 24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30 ), the cleaning device can be seen with a cleaning element  20  surrounding (in sleeve-like fashion) a main body  100 , which in turn encloses preferably most of the inner body  70 , wherein the inner body  70  is slideable longitudinally relative to the main body  100 , and wherein the inner body  70  has a reservoir  75  for storage of cleaning fluid (not shown) and has two (although the number could be one or more than two) inner body holes  110  for allowing the fluid to pass out of the reservoir  75  through the sidewall of the inner body  70  (sidewall of the inner body is also referred to herein as inner body wall), the main body  100  has two (although, again, the number could be one or more than two) main body holes  120  for allowing fluid to pass through the sidewall of the main body  100  (sidewall of the main body is also referred to herein as main body wall), with each of the two inner body holes  110  positioned for it not to overlap any of the main body holes  120  while the inner body is in a neutral position, but to overlap at least part of at least one of the main body holes  120  while the inner body is in a dispensing position (neutral and dispensing positions are described more fully below). 
     The first cleaning device is shown in the cross-sectional view in  FIG. 4  (as well as in  FIG. 12 , and for an embodiment having a different transverse cross-sectional shape,  FIGS. 24 and 26 ) with the inner body  70  in a neutral position relative to the main body  100 , wherein the inner body  70  is urged into said neutral position by a biasing device  140  (shown as a spring, although it could be any device capable of biasing the inner body  70  relative to the main body  100  in an outward longitudinal direction) situated between the inner body base  150  and the main body base  130 . Preferably, the fit between the portions of the inner body comprising the inner body holes  110  and the portions of the main body comprising the main body holes  120 , is made tight enough for preventing an unacceptable amount of leakage of the fluid from the reservoir  75  while the inner body is in the neutral position, without also preventing manual movement of the inner body  70  between the neutral and dispensing positions as further described herein. It is believed that such tightness may be accomplished readily with the aid of available lubricants (preferably ones that resist being dissolved by the cleaning fluid, such as grease or possibly beeswax) applied between the inner body and main body. In these figures, the inner body  70  is shown being prevented from outward longitudinal movement beyond the neutral position by the presence of an internal shoulder  160  formed by making the sidewall of the main body  100  thicker at the point where the shoulder  160  is to stop the outward longitudinal movement of the inner body base  150 , which as is shown, is wider than the remainder of the inner body  70 . Therefore, the inner body base  150  is prevented from moving outward longitudinally beyond the neutral position but free to move inward longitudinally but for the resistance provided (in addition to any incidental resistance such as from friction between the parts involved) by the biasing device  140 , which resistance preferably can be overcome by human fingers pressing the knob  80  (thus, the inner body  70 ) toward the main body base  130 . In these figures, the inner body is also shown guided by the bushing  60  proximate its distal end, the bushing  60  being shown having an opening through which the inner body can slide while moving longitudinally, inwardly and outwardly, relative to the main body  100 , and the bushing  60  preferably acting as a seal for preventing leakage of the fluid (such as by use of an O-ring seal between the inner body  70  and the bushing  60 ). 
       FIGS. 4 and 12  show a longitudinal slot  180  (also referred to as a groove) recessed into the sidewall of the main body  100  engaged by a pin  170  (also referred to as a rod) that is fixed to and extends outwardly from the sidewall of the inner body  70 , to serve as a set of anti-twist parts for preventing the inner body  70  from twisting relative to the main body  100 , while, for example, the inner body is being moved back and forth between neutral and dispensing positions and/or the first cleaning device  10 A is being otherwise manipulated for cleaning a surface. 
     The first cleaning device is shown in the cross-sectional view in  FIG. 5  (as well as in  FIGS. 13-14 , and, for an embodiment having a different transverse cross-sectional shape, in  FIGS. 28 and 30 ) with the inner body  70  in a dispensing position relative to the main body  100 , wherein the inner body  70  is pressed into said dispensing position by overcoming the resistance to such movement, including the force of the biasing device  140 , which is shown in these figures as compressed within the space remaining between the inner body base  150  and the main body base  130 . In the dispensing position, as seen in these figures, the inner body holes overlap the main body holes enough to provide a pathway through which the fluid can pass from the reservoir to the cleaning element, the cleaning element preferably being made of a material that will absorb the fluid that contacts its inner surface and communicate at least some of the absorbed fluid to the outer surface of the cleaning element for application of at least some of the fluid onto a cleanable surface such as the screen  15  of the other item  17  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  ( FIGS. 20 and 21 , for the embodiment referred to as the second cleaning device  10 B, which is described further below in connection with  FIGS. 19-33 ) show the first cleaning device  10 A (the second cleaning device  10 B in  FIGS. 20 and 21 ) with its inner body  70  in the neutral position, lying horizontally, as seen from its right side in  FIG. 8  ( FIG. 21  for the second cleaning device  10 B) and as seen from its front in  FIG. 9  ( FIG. 20  for the second cleaning device  10 B).  FIGS. 10 and 11  ( FIGS. 22 and 23  for the second cleaning device  10 B), show the first cleaning device  10 A (second cleaning device  10 B in  FIGS. 22 and 23 ) with its inner body  70  in the dispensing position (the neutral positions of the inner body  70  and its attached knob  80  being shown in phantom lines).  FIG. 10  ( FIG. 23  for the second cleaning device  10 B) shows the wetting part  30  of the cleaning element  20  with a wetted section  190  appearing below the impermeable barrier  50  as a result of the fluid passing from the reservoir  75  (not visible in these figures) into the cleaning element  20 . And,  FIG. 11  illustrates an example of the wetted section  190  covering most of the back half of the cleaning element  20 . (Note that although each of the sectional cuts III-III, IV-IV, X-X, XI-XI and XII-XII is shown (see  FIGS. 10 ,  11 ,  28  and  30 ) cutting through one of the wetted sections  190  illustrated in  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  23 , the wetted sections  190  are not also illustrated in the figures showing the sectional views associated with those cuts.) 
     In order to more fully illustrate the relationship between the cleaning element  20 , the main body  100 , and the inner body  70 ,  FIG. 6  (and  FIG. 32 , for an embodiment having a different transverse cross-sectional shape) shows the inner body  70 , in the neutral position, without the view being obstructed by the presence of the cleaning element  20  covering the main body  100 . And,  FIG. 7  (and,  FIG. 33 , for an embodiment having a different transverse cross-sectional shape) shows the first cleaning device  10 A, still in the neutral position, not only without the view being obstructed by the presence of the cleaning element  20  covering the main body  100 , but also without the view being obstructed by the main body  100  itself. Note, however, that while  FIG. 7  does not show where the main body base  130  would be located, it does show the presence of the spring biasing device  140  and the location of the pin  170  (the slot  180  not being shown due to the absence of the main body  100 ). ( FIG. 33  does show where its main body base  130  would be located as well as its spring biasing device  140 , there being no need for a pin  170  (or a slot  180 ) on the embodiment of the cleaning device  10 B shown in that figure, since the transverse cross-sectional shapes of its inner body  70  and main body  100  fit together in a way that serves as its set of anti-twist parts.) 
       FIG. 15  shows the circular transverse cross-sectional shape of the cleaning element  20 , main body  100 , and inner body  70  of the first cleaning device  10 A that is the subject of  FIGS. 3-14 . While  FIG. 15  shows an impermeable barrier  50  in order to properly represent the embodiment in  FIG. 3 , which has such a barrier; the barrier  50  may be removed from  FIG. 15 , for it to represent an alternative embodiment that exercises the option not to include a barrier as part of the cleaning element  20 .  FIGS. 16-18  show, without intending to limit the scope of the invention to only them, examples of transverse cross-sectional shapes of those parts for alternative embodiments of the invention (these figures show no impermeable barrier  50 , so represent the option of alternative embodiments for having no barrier as part of the cleaning element  20 .).  FIGS. 19-33  show an alternative embodiment, in the form of second cleaning device  10 B, in which the transverse cross-sections of those parts are generally represented by the cross-sectional view in  FIG. 16 . The version depicted in  FIG. 19A  is substantially similar to that in  FIG. 19  but reflects the option of having no impermeable barrier  50  as part of the cleaning element  20  (as well as having the outer extents of the cleaning element  20  match the outer extents of its main body base  130  and its bushing  60 ), and is referred to as the no-barrier second cleaning device  10 B′. (Note that the figures herein do not always show the constituent wetting part  30  and, if any, drying part  40  separately from the cleaning element  20 , as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , illustrating an embodiment in a generic form, and in  FIGS. 16-18  and  19 A, illustrating embodiments that have no impermeable barrier  50 .) 
     In  FIGS. 19-33 , the parts that are comparable to their counterpart parts shown in  FIGS. 3-14  (even though they may have some differences in their respective shapes, most notably the transverse cross-sectional shapes of the cleaning element  20 , inner body  70 , and main body  100 , the alternative shapes shown for the main body base  130 , the knob  80 , and the attachment hole  90 , and the differences in elongation of the overall cleaning device  10 A, 10 B) are identified by the same name and number as their counterpart parts.  FIGS. 19-33  are described to a large extent in connection with  FIGS. 3-14 , but it may be helpful to note that the non-circular transverse cross-sectional shapes of the cleaning element  20 , the main body  100 , and the inner body  70  of the second cleaning device  10 B that is the subject of  FIGS. 19-33  obviates the need for any additional anti-twist parts (such as the pin  170  and slot  180 ). In addition,  FIGS. 24-33  show front, side and sectional cut views of this second cleaning device  10 B to illustrate the appearance of those comparable parts from those points of view. For example, a comparison of  FIGS. 24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30  shows the second cleaning device  10 B wider in a front view than in a side view and the spring biasing device  140  not fitting as snuggly in the space provided for it as it does in a side view (which snugness, combined with the elliptical nature of the transverse cross-sectional shape of the main body  100 , tends to prevent the spring  140  from slipping sideways, although, alternatively, a spring shaped to conform more fully to the space could be used to further help prevent such slippage). And,  FIGS. 25 ,  27 ,  29  and  31  provide a transverse cross-sectional view of the relationships between the inner body hole  110  and the main body hole  120  while the inner body  70  is in the neutral position (shown in  FIGS. 25 and 27 ) and when the inner body  70  is in the dispensing position (shown in  FIGS. 29 and 31 ). Furthermore, note that while  FIGS. 25 ,  27 ,  29  and  31  show an impermeable barrier  50  in order to properly represent  FIGS. 24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30 , which are based on  FIG. 19 ; the barrier  50  may be removed from  FIGS. 19 ,  21 ,  23 - 25 ,  27 - 29 , and  31 , for those figures to represent an alternative embodiment that exercises the option not to include a barrier as part of the cleaning element  20 , as would be the case if they represented the no-barrier second cleaning device  10 B′ shown in  FIG. 19A . 
     It should be understood that the present invention contemplates and includes all conventional adjustments and modifications to the embodiments described or shown herein, including alternate embodiments of the present invention that have conventional differences in size, shape, proportion, orientation, or direction of movement from those described or shown herein, without departing from the present invention. 
     Accordingly, the invention claimed is not limited to the embodiments described or shown herein, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the claims and is limited only by such claims.