Abstract:
A surface scrubbing device includes a pad base member that has at least one exit port with a connection structure provided on the pad base member. A surface engaging member is attached to the pad member. A storage chamber is provided within the scrubbing pad member with fluid stored therein. The storage chamber being positioned within the pad base member. A user manipulatable valve is provided in communication with the storage chamber so that depression of the button urges fluid the storage chamber through the exit port and to the surface engaging member. A wand is removably connected to the pad member via the connection means to extend the reach of the scrubbing device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from prior U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/891,331 filed on Feb. 23, 2007. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to dispensing devices and packages. More specifically, the present invention relates to metering devices that can controllably dispense fluid media from a source of fluid media while simultaneously providing a construction for assisting in the delivery and application of the fluid media to a surface for treating that surface. 
     Various types of fluid material and media are employed for different purposes through commerce and industry. For example, there are various products in the personal care, home care, air care, transportation care, and food industries that require some type of dispensing of a fluid material from a source of such material. When this material is sold in commerce, it must be contained and stored in some type of container. When that product is used, it must be dispensed from its storage container to a location for use. 
     In the prior art, there are many different types of dispensers for delivering fluid material. For example, a flexible container body with a nozzle tip is commonly provided for such a purpose. An application of such use is for the dispensing of ketchup where the container body is squeezed by the user to urge the fluid material out from the nozzle tip and accurately to a desired location. The amount of fluid delivered is determined by the how much the user squeezed the container body. However, this yields erratic results where more or less fluid material is delivered on each successive squeeze of the container body. Also, the container must be held upright to avoid leakage because no valves are employed. Therefore, there is a need for a dispensing package that can deliver the media contained therein a controlled and metered fashion. 
     To meet this need, a flexible container holds a volume of fluid material to be delivered. A single one-way check valve is provided as an exit port from the flexible container. When the flexible body is squeezed, the material is urged out under pressure through the valve. In commonly owned Ser. No. 11/074,817, filed on Mar. 8, 2005, and U.S. Ser. No. 11/951,351, filed on Dec. 6, 2007 a dual valve construction is employed to provide for controlled metered dispensing of media from a package. However, these known devices require that the entire package be disposed of when the supply of media to be dispensed has been depleted. 
     There has also been a desire to not only dispense the fluid material but also to help apply them, such as to a surface. In the prior art, the squeezable container bodies have been equipped with some type of applicator head for this purposes. For example, in the home care cleaning industry, there are many types of surface cleaners that include a cleaning pad that contacts the surface to be cleaned. It is also common for the surface cleaning device to include an auxiliary supply of liquid cleaner to deliver directly to the surface to be cleaned. A supply of material is commonly mounted to the wand or handle of the device and a button or trigger is actuated to spray a desired amount of liquid cleaner to the surface in front of the cleaning pad on the device. 
     However, it is desirable to have the liquid cleaner be impregnated in the pad or be directed immediately under the pad rather than in front of the pad on the surface to be cleaned. In the prior art, there is a particular need for an effective device that can dispense fluid materials in a metered and dosed fashion where the liquid can be controlled. It is also desirable that the device be convertible between an upright wand-controlled cleaning device for floors, and the like, and a hand-held device that does not employ a wand or handle for non-floor surfaces, such as walls and countertops. 
     In view of the foregoing, the surface scrubber devices with fluid dispensing capabilities of the prior art suffer from various disadvantages that make them difficult and awkward to use with unexpected results. Therefore, there is a need for a surface scrubber that is easy to operate. There is a further need for the option for a surface scrubber to be to be capable of delivering a metered dose of fluid upon each dispensing operation directly below the surface scrubber itself for better application of the fluid material. There is also a need for such a dispenser to be less wasteful than prior art dispensers. There is also a need for surface scrubber that can be operated with or without an extension wand for flexibility of operation and use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art surface scrubbing and dispensing devices. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available devices and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available devices. 
     The invention is generally directed to a novel and unique surface cleaner and also includes an integral cleaning fluid dispenser for improving the cleaning effectiveness of the device. Many types of fluids may be dispensed using the present invention and cleaning fluid is one example and will be discussed in detail herein. This invention shall not be considered to be limited to the dispensing of cleaning fluid in a cleaning device environment. 
     The fluid dispensing device includes a container with an independently deformable bladder therein. A nozzle is in fluid communication with the bladder that contains a volume of liquid for dispensing. A flexible and/or compressible outer exoskeleton is preferably provided that maintains the bladder and the overall structure of the device in an upright or desired position an configuration. When the outer flexible and/or compressible exoskeleton is squeezed, the bladder container or retained therein is compressed thereby urging liquid from the storage bladder and out through the nozzle for dispensing. The nozzle may be of any configuration, such as a pin hole tip, slit, atomizer, or the like to suit the desired application at hand. 
     As seen in the attached drawing figures, the surface cleaning device of the present invention includes a cleaning pad base with a rigid, semi-rigid or soft base with a preferably textured foam cleaning surface on its underside. Within the body of the cleaning pad structure is a bladder or chamber that contains cleaning fluid. A metering chamber receives the fluid, via a one-way valve, to measure an amount of fluid. Upon pressing the bubble squeeze valve, or other valve configuration, a predetermined amount of cleaning fluid exits from the exit port or exit ports on the bottom of the pad to permit it to propagate throughout the foam for even cleaning. For cleaning a surface that is easily reachable, such as a countertop, the user can simply grasp the flanges of the cleaning pad and move it as desired for cleaning. When more cleaning fluid is needed to be delivered to the surface to be cleaned, the user simply presses against the valve to deliver the cleaning fluid, as described above. 
     Frequently, there are surfaces to be cleaned that are not easily reachable or are awkward to access over extended periods of time. For example, a floor or high up on a wall are difficult to reach thereby necessitating a extension wand or handle. As seen in the leftmost image on the attached drawings, the present invention includes a removable extension wand that attached directly to the cleaning pad base. Thus, the same cleaning pad can be used alone or in conjunction with the extension wand. Prior art devices are either for floor cleaning or for hand-held use. 
     The extension wand includes an elongated shaft that terminates on its lower end with a cup-like structure, which can be made of rubber or the like, that frictionally and pivotally engages with the circumferential flange located about the valve on the top of the cleaning pad base to provide a flexible coupling. The bottom cup, while engaged with the flange, can flex to permit pivoting during movement of the pad on the surface. The cup, and the wand attached thereto, can be easily removed so the pad can be used in hand-held fashion, if desired. 
     The wand also includes a structure for engaging the valve on the cleaning pad base to meter out cleaning fluid from the storage chamber. On the opposing end of the wand, a trigger is provided to preferably deliver a burst of air to depress the bubble valve on the top of the cleaning pad. A mechanical linkage may also be used to carry out this actuation of the valve. Also, the user may simply press down on the wand toward the valve to actuate it. Any type of actuation of the valve via the wand may be employed and still be within the scope of the present invention. 
     The bladder includes a pump and dispensing system that can deliver the media in a dosed and metered fashion. The container provides a outer exoskeleton that is preferably rigid but may also be semi-rigid to receive the internal dispensing bladder. When the internal bladder is depleted of media for dispensing, it may be simply removed and replaced with a new bladder while leaving the outer rigid exoskeleton container housing for re-use. This substantially saves on cost in that the outer housing need not be replaced entirely each time when the supply bladder is empty. The internal bladder and outer housing may be in any form or configuration to suit the dispensing application at hand. 
     It is also possible that the a pump and valve configuration may be employed to assist in moving liquid from the storage bladder and through the nozzle. For example, it is preferred that a flexible metering housing be disposed in fluid communication with the fluid storage region of the internal bladder with a first one-way valve disposed between the container and the flexible metering housing. One way flow from the interior fluid storage region of the container fills the predetermined volume of the metering chamber with fluid by vacuum action when the flexible metering housing is depressed and then released. A second valve is in fluid communication with the metering housing output port and permits one-way fluid flow from the metering chamber to the exterior outer region of the container to a desired position when the metering housing is depressed again. Each time the metering housing is depressed a substantially equal volume of fluid is dispensed from the container. Optionally, an additional applicator layer on the outside of container, such as foam, facilitates dispersion and delivery of the fluid. 
     The internal deformable bladder of the present invention may reside in the outer exoskeleton housing in many different ways with the pump dispensing mechanism exposed for manipulation by a user. For example, it may snap into the housing where the door of the housing secures the internal bladder in place during the use. The door may be easily opened to remove the bladder when it is empty and replace it with a new full bladder. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bottle that is capable of storing and dispensing liquid in a controlled fashion. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a bottle that can be squeezed to dispense the liquid while maintaining a consistent and aesthetically pleasing appearance at all times during use of the bottle. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a fluid dispensing device that can deliver a substantially equal volume of fluid material from each dispensing operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention&#39;s preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the surface cleaner with removable wand of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the surface cleaner of  FIG. 1  with the wand removed; 
         FIG. 3  is a close-up perspective view of the scrubbing surface of the surface cleaner; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view through the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2  showing the pump mechanism for dispensing liquid; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section view through the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1  showing the interconnection of the wand extension member to the surface scrubber base; 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the bladder and pump construction in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view through the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view through the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5  showing the pump and bladder in the process of dispensing fluid. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In general, the novel features of the present invention relate to a unique surface cleaning device  10  with a handheld portion  12  and an optional extension wand  14  attachment connected thereto to extend the reach of the cleaning device. 
     Turning first to  FIG. 1 , the surface cleaning device  10  of the present invention generally include a handheld portion  12  and a wand  14  removably attached thereto. The handheld portion  12  of the cleaning device  10  includes a rigid, semi-rigid or soft housing member  16  with a preferably textured foam cleaning surface pad  18  with a textured surface  30  on its underside. The extension wand  14  is removably attached to the handheld portion  12  to extend the reach of the surface scrubber pad  18  when in operation. A button  20  is provided on the handle  22  of the wand  14  to actuate the pump mechanism  24  when the wand  14  is attached to the handheld portion  12  for extended reach operation. A controller cable  26  or other means is routed through the wand  14  to control an actuator  28  that is positioned proximal to the pump mechanism  24 , as will be described in detail below. 
     The removable wand  14  is useful because, frequently, there are surfaces to be cleaned that are not easily reachable or are awkward to access over extended periods of time. For example, a floor or high up on a wall are difficult to reach while holding the handheld portion  12  direction in the hand thereby necessitating a extension wand  14  or handle. It should be understood that handheld portion of the cleaning device  10  can be used alone or in conjunction with the extension wand. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the handheld portion  12  of the cleaning device  10 . A main housing  16  is provided with a connector member flanges  32  and a pump actuator button  34  on the top thereof. The bottom  36  of the main housing carries a scrubbing pad  18 , which can be any type of known material for interfacing with a surface during treatment. These materials include cellulose foam, open cell foam, closed cell foam, urethane, reticulated foam and others. 
       FIG. 3  shows a close-up perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the scrubbing pad  18  attached to housing  16 . In this embodiment, the pad  18  is shown as textured foam with an array of protrusions  30 . However, it should be understood that this is only one of the many different types of material for the pad  18  that can be affixed to the bottom of the housing  16  of the handheld portion  12 . The pad  18 , shown in  FIG. 3 , can be either permanently attached to the bottom of the housing  16  or removably affixed thereto. For example, the scrubbing pad  18  may be removably affixed by clips, hook and loop fasteners and the like to permit easy replacement with a clean pad when the exiting materials becomes too dirty. Thus, the pad  18  can be easily discarded and replaced with clean scrubbing pad  18 . It should also be understood that the scrubbing pad  18  may be any type of treatment pad that is not necessarily for scrubbing. For example, the pad  18  may be employed for polishing or applying a coating to a surface. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , within the handheld portion  12  is a bladder or chamber  202  that contains cleaning fluid  16 . A metering chamber  208  receives the fluid, via a one-way valve, to measure an amount of fluid  16 . Upon pressing the dome  204 , a predetermined amount of cleaning fluid  16  exits from the exit port or exit ports  210  on the bottom of the pad  18  to permit it to propagate throughout the pad  18  for even cleaning. For cleaning a surface that is easily reachable, such as a countertop, the user can simply grasp the flanges of the handheld portion  12  and move it as desired for cleaning. When more cleaning fluid is needed to be delivered to the surface to be cleaned, the user simply presses against the dome  204  to deliver the cleaning fluid, as described above. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , preferably, additional details of the metering dispensing pump are provided. Any type of pump mechanism can be used in the cleaning device of the present invention, however, a metering pump is preferred. A metering dispensing pump  218  for dispensing the liquid  16  in the present invention assists in delivering liquid to the pad for improving effectiveness thereof. Within the housing of the handheld portion  12 , bladder  202  contains liquid  16 . When released, a flexible dome  204  pulls liquid  16  upwardly through first valve  206  to fill metering chamber  208 . When the dome  204  is depressed, the first valve closes and liquid  16  is urged out through exit port  210  down preferably to the surface of the pad  18 . The exit port  210  acts as a second valve and, when liquid is not being pumped, the distance A is substantially reduced so that opposing sides of the exit port seal the dispenser to prevent accident dispensing. When dispensing is desired, the dome  204  is pressed and liquid  16  is urged out through the exit port  210  to expand it temporarily to permit outflow of liquid  16 , as desired. More than one exit port  210  may be used to distribute liquid for dispensing and application via more than one location on the pad  18  for more even distribution thereof. 
     When the liquid in the bladder is depleted, it may be re-filled in many different ways. For example, as seen in  FIG. 4 , a port may be opened for receiving new liquid for dispensing. Alternatively, the entire bladder, with or without the pump mechanism  218  may be replaced with a new one that is full of liquid  16 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the extension wand  14  includes an elongated shaft  36  that terminates on its lower end with a flexible cup-like structure  38 , which can be made of rubber or the like, that frictionally and pivotally engages with the circumferential flange  40  located about the dome  34  on the top of the handheld portion  12  to provide a flexible coupling. Since the cup  40  is flexible is can be easily stretched over the flange  40  to be removably secured thereto. For removable, the cup  40  be stretched slightly again to remove the flange from seat  42  on the inside of the cup  40 . 
     The cup  38 , while engaged with the flange  40 , can flex to permit pivoting during movement of the pad  18  on a surface during use. The cup  38 , and the wand  14  attached thereto, can be easily removed so the handheld portion  12  can be used directly and alone, if desired. The flexible engagement of cup  38  with the flange  40  of the handheld portion  12  is just one of many different types of coupling that can be used and still be within the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the wand  14  also includes a structure for engaging the dome  24  on the handheld portion  12  to meter out cleaning fluid  16  from the storage chamber  202 . On the opposing end of the wand  14 , the trigger  20  is provided to preferably deliver a burst of air from an air source to depress the dome  34  on the top of the handheld portion  12  of the cleaning device  10 . A mechanical linkage may also be used to carry out this actuation of the dome  34  of the pump  24 . Alternatively, the user may simply press down on the wand  14  toward the dome  34  to actuate it. Any type of actuation of the dome to effectuate pumping via the wand  14  may be employed and still be within the scope of the present invention. 
     Another embodiment of the metering dispensing pump is shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . In  FIG. 6 , a perspective view of a metering dispenser  300  that employs the improved valving in accordance with the present invention. An outer storage bladder  320  is provided that may be formed of two sheets of material  304 ,  306  secured together, such as by welding, or a tube of material. A metering pump, generally referred to as  326 , pulls liquid  302  from the bladder  320 , meters it, and then dispenses it via an exit port  308 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 8 , the dispending of liquid  302  is shown. When it is desired to actually dispense the liquid product  302 , the user&#39;s thumb  430  can depress the flexible dome  404  and the user&#39;s index finger  432  can invert the base plate  410  from convex to concave, by application of force against the stand-off legs  424 , such that flexible dome  404 , with the assistance of the stand-off legs  422  under the flexible dome, securely seals and provides a positive lock of the flapper valve  408  over and about the aperture  412  thereby closing the liquid flow passage back into the reservoir  434  of the storage container  320 . 
     It is also possible that the base plate  410  is concave and then is inverted to a convex configuration. Other fingers of the user may be used to carry out this operation. Thus, the only path for the liquid  302  contained within the cavity  405  of dome  404  is to exit through the one-way outlet valve  436  for intended dispensing of the product, as indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 14 . 
     When applied to the cleaning device of the present invention, the surface, such as a floor, onto which the cleaning device is located can replace the functionality of the user&#39;s index finger  432  in  FIG. 8  to ensure that flapper valve  408  remains closed when the liquid is dispensed. Further, the exit port  436  is routed into and optionally through the pad to deliver liquid to a desired location for use on a surface. As above, multiple output ports  436  can be used to distribute liquid  16  to multiple locations. 
     It should be understood that the stand-off legs  422  on the bottom of the flexible dome housing  404  and the stand-off legs  424  on the bottom of the base plate  410  can be modified in size, length and configuration to adjust the amount of squeezing necessary by the user&#39;s fingers  430 ,  432  to effectuate sealing of the flapper valve  408 . For example, preferably four stand-off legs  422  are provided on the bottom of the flexible dome housing  404  in a 2×2 array and can be 1/32 of an inch in length. It is also possible that these stand-off legs  422  can be a single downwardly depending wall, such as in the shape of a circle or square. Such an array is configured to downwardly press against the one-way flapper valve  408  outside of the diameter of the aperture  412  through the base plate  410  to provide a good seal of the flapper valve  408  to the base plate  410 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates further structure to prevent unwanted dispensing of liquid. In addition to the improved valving, as above, automatic shut-off of the exit port passageway  436 , when pressure is exerted on the exterior of the storage container  320 , serves to prevent leakage. In  FIG. 7 , when pressured is applied to the outside of the storage container or pouch  320 , as indicated by arrows referenced A, the exit port passageway  436  tends to collapse, flatten and squeeze closed. As a result, any material residing in the passageway is urged back into the cavity  405  of the flexible dome housing  404 , as indicated by arrow referenced B. As a result, unwanted leakage is prevented when accidental or unintentional pressure is placed on the storage container  320 . Such a leak prevention system can be easily incorporated into the cleaning device environment of the present invention. 
     In view of the foregoing, a new and unique surface cleaning device, with an integrated cleaning fluid dispenser, is provided. The new device can be operated in handheld fashion where the handheld portion is directly manipulated by the user. Also, the device may be operable with an extension wand to extend the reach thereof while still maintaining control of the device and being able to actuate the pump mechanism for delivery of liquid to the pad. Such flexibility enables surfaces to be comfortably treated by the user. 
     It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the appended claims.