Patent Publication Number: US-2018042435-A1

Title: Fully Disposable Cleaning Device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to fully disposable cleaning device preferably for cleaning a toilet bowl. The preferred embodiment device has an extendable handle with a cleaning head secured to one end. The cleaning head is comprised of an absorbent material which is highly compacted to form a core that retains its shape until moistened. The moistening of the cleaning head expands the cleaning head from a small compacted core to a cleaning head of adequate size for cleaning the toilet bowl. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A traditional toilet bowl brush provided in the prior art is stored next to the toilet in a storage case. At the conclusion of the cleaning process, a user typically places a wet toilet bowl brush in the storage case and does not take the time to clean and sanitize the brush or storage case. The brush and storage case often becomes unsightly and pose a hygiene problem during storage and fertile ground for growth of bacteria and germs. 
     Other embodiments in the prior art consists of a disposable cleaning head that is detachable from the handle and often come with a storage case for the handle and cleaning heads. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,270 to Vitantonio issued Apr. 25, 2006 describes such a toilet cleaning apparatus having a cleaning head which is detachable from the handle portion and comes with a caddy for storing both the handle and unused cleaning heads. Although these types cleaning devices reduce the unsanitary storage problem for the cleaning head, still there exists an unsanitary storage issue of the permanent handle and often a storage container. Again, the user would typically not take the time to sanitize these devices at the conclusion of the cleaning process, and often these devices become unsightly and pose a hygiene problem during storage and a fertile ground for growth of bacteria and germs. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,197 to Katz issued Apr. 19, 2005 describes a fully disposable toilet cleaning device with an extendable handle in which the both the handle and brush head are disposable and designed for limited use. The device includes a handle and a telescoping arm which extends from the handle with a cleaning head secured to one end of the arm. The cleaning head is stored within the handle during shipping and storage and exposed during operation. In operation, this toilet cleaning device, in its preferred embodiment, requires the user to grip the cleaning head to extend the arm from the handle and to expose the cleaning head. With the cleaning head infused with a cleaning agent, the user would have to come in contact with the cleaning agent to expose the cleaning head. This mode of operation would potentially be messy for the user and potentially pose health risks with chemicals being exposed to the user&#39;s skin. 
     It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an economical fully disposable toilet cleaning device wherein the cleaning head is comprised of an absorbent material and is highly compressed to form a small self-sustaining core. The core expands when moistened to form a cleaning head of adequate size for cleaning the toilet bowl. The benefits of this arrange is that it requires relatively little volume and permits packaging multiple cleaning brushes in a relatively small package. The maximization of units per package provides very efficient use of shelf space versus conventional brushes while also increasing economic efficiencies in shipping and storage. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a fully disposable toilet cleaning device that does not require storage after use and thus, more sanitary than conventional toilet brushes and other toilet cleaning devices. In the preferred embodiment, the fully disposable toilet bowl cleaning device comprises an extendable handle from which a cleaning head may be exposed from the handle without requiring the user to touch the cleaning head. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A cleaning device may include a handle, a cleaning head secured to said handle, said cleaning head comprising an absorbent material being highly compressed to form a small self-sustaining core for packaging and shipping; a method of deploying the cleaning device. 
     The cleaning device may moistened the compacted core to expand the cleaning head and be ready for use. 
     The handle may include an outer member. 
     The handle may include an inner member. 
     The diameter of the outer member may be slightly less than inner diameter of said outer member to provide a flush but moveable fit of said inner member with respect to said outer member. 
     The absorbent material may be a cellulose sponge. 
     The handle may be biodegradable. 
     The cleaning head may be infused with a cleaning agent. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of the presently preferred embodiment of the toilet cleaning device, shown in an extended operative position and the cleaning head is fully expanded; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the toilet cleaning device of  FIG. 1 , shown in an extended operative position and the cleaning head is fully expanded; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view showing the highly compacted cleaning head nested inside the handle, and the handle is in a collapsed position; and 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view showing the highly compacted cleaning head, and the handle is in an intermediate position; and 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing an alternative embodiment where the highly compacted cleaning head nest outside the handle, and the handle is in a collapsed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention provides a low cost fully disposable toilet cleaning device with an extendable handle comprised of tubular shaped outer and inner members with first and second ends. The inner member may be telescopically slidable within the outer member. A cleaning head may be secured to the second end of the inner member. In the preferred embodiment, a portion of the inner member may extend from the outer member when the handle is in a collapsed position. A force may be applied by a user to the inner member to manipulate the outer and inner members to an extended position. The cleaning head may be highly compacted to form a small core and may be nested within the handle during a stored position. The highly compacted cleaning head may sustain a small core until the cleaning head is moistened for purpose of expanding the cleaning head and be ready for use. The small compacted core provides a device for economic efficiencies in packaging, shipping and storage. The cleaning head may be made of plant based biodegradable material, foam rubber, nylon, polyester or any other resilient material used for cleaning. The cleaning head may be comprised of an absorbent material that when moistened, expands to form a cleaning head of adequate size for cleaning a toilet bowl. A cleaning agent may be infused within the cleaning head that may be activated when rinsed with water. The handle may be made of a plant based biodegradable material or plastic. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , a disposable toilet cleaning device  10  may include a handle  20  including an inner member  40  with first and second ends  42 ,  44  that may be telescopically slidable within an outer member  30 . The outer member  30  may be generally hollow and tubular shape with first and second open ends  32 ,  34 . The outer member  30  may taper from the first open end  32  to the second open end  34 , and the first open end  32  may be slightly larger in diameter than the second open end  34 . The inner member  40  may be also tapered generally along the same lines of the outer member  30 . The outer diameter of the inner member  40  may be slightly less that the inner diameter of the outer member  30 , such that the inner member  40  may be flushly fictionally held with the body of the outer member  30  but relative longitudinal movement of the inner member  40  within the outer member  30  may be permitted. The outer diameter of the first end  42  of the inner member  40  may be larger than the second open end  34  of the outer member  30  such that the first end  42  of the inner member  40  cannot be withdrawn fully through the second open end  34  of the outer member  30 . The inner member  40  forms a locking ridge  46  that acts as a stop by bearing against the top edge of the second open end  34  of the outer member  30  when the handle  20  is in an extended position as shown in  FIG. 2 . An expandable cleaning head  12  may be secured to the second end  44  of the inner member  40 . The cleaning head  12  may nest within the outer member  30  in a highly compacted position when the handle  20  is in a collapsed position as shown in  FIG. 2 . In operation, the inner member  40  at the first end  42  may partially extend from the outer member  30  at a predetermined distance for a user to urge the cleaning head  12  opposite the second open end  34  of the outer member  30  and expose the cleaning head  12  to an intermediate position as shown in  FIG. 4 . In the intermediate position, the first open end  32  of the outer member  30  and the first end  42  of the inner member  40  may be approximately equal distance as measured longitudinally. From the intermediate position, the user would grasp the exposed portion of the inner member  40  near the second end  44  directly above the cleaning head  12  and urge the inner member  40  a predetermined distance so that the locking ridge  46  of the inner member  40  is engaged within the edge the outer member  30  to form an extended position as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . In this extended position, the inner member  40  is locked in both directions longitudinally with the cleaning head  12  fully exposed and ready for use.  FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative embodiment of when the handle  20  may be in a collapsed position, the cleaning head  12  may nest partially to fully outside the outer member  40  to form a highly compacted self-sustaining core. The outer and inner member  30 , 40  forming the handle  20  may be made of a biodegradable plant based product or plastic or other appropriate material. The cleaning head  12  may be made of a plant based biodegradable material, plastic, foam rubber, nylon, polyester or any other resilient material used for cleaning. The cleaning head  12  is comprised of an absorbent material that is fully expandable when moistened. A cleaning agent may be infused within the cleaning head that is activated when the cleaning head is exposed to water. 
     Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the present invention as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structure for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.