Patent Publication Number: US-2005138748-A1

Title: Cleaning device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/532,885, filed Dec. 29, 2003. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to cleaning implements, and particularly to a cleaning device that has a grip handle attached to a disposable cartridge attached to a cleaning member in order to clean a restroom&#39;s facilities, such as a toilet.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Toilet cleaning brushes are typically one-piece items comprising a handle permanently attached to a brush. Such cleaning devices are easily fouled, rendered smelly, and serve as a breeding ground for bacteria including pathogenic bacteria.  
      Thus, there is a need for a cleaning device that avoids such problems. A review of the related art follows.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,620, issued on Oct. 15, 2002 to Busha, describes a brush assembly for cleaning toilet bowls.  
      The Busha brush assembly has a removable and disposable applicator head. The brush assembly comprises an elongated handle with a broadening diverging end and an applicator head for removable attachment thereto. Dual locking means for the applicator head are provided. The locking means may be manually released without having to physically handle a soiled applicator head.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,452, issued Nov. 26, 2002 to Yen, describes a self-opening/closing umbrella that comprises a handle, an outer tube, a middle tube partially mounted in the outer tube and including a lower end securely attached to the handle and an upper end in the outer tube. A rib-mounting base is securely mounted to the upper end of the inner tube to move therewith. A stretcher-mounting runner is mounted to the upper end of the outer tube to move therewith, the runner being slidably mounted around the inner tube. A compression spring is attached between the runner and the upper end of the middle tube. When an opening button is pushed, the runner and the outer tube are moved upward under a first stage of extension of the compression spring, thereby opening the umbrella. When the closing button is pushed while the umbrella is in the open state, the base and the inner tube are moved upward under a second stage of extension of the compression spring, thereby closing the umbrella.  
      U.S. patent Publication No. 2003/0024074, published Feb. 6, 2003, describes a handle with a biconcave-shaped cross section that is suitable for a hand tool, a hand tool extension, a tool connector, a wheelbarrow handle, or any of a variety of devices that are to be gripped by the human hand. The biconcave-shaped handle conforms to the contours of a human hand.  
      U.S. patent Publication No. 2003/0024126, published Feb. 6, 2003, describes a snap-assembling structure as a grip for grill tools. The Liu grip comprises a connection handle and casing. The handle has two side plates, each of which defines a catch cut. A casing is furnished with a plug slot and a push button channel for receiving a push button mounted with a spring.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,979, issued Mar. 10, 1981 to Bau, describes a scoop device having a plurality of spring fingers. A string is threaded through the ends of the fingers to form a polygon shape. Pulling the string causes the finger ends to move together.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,161, issued Feb. 22, 1994 to Graves et al., describes a quick release lock mechanism for releasably connecting an extension pole to a tool handle. The Graves &#39;161 device comprises an adaptor attached to the extension pole. A non-rotatable connection is provided between the adaptor and tool handle.  
      None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a cleaning device solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is a cleaning device to clean a restroom&#39;s facilities, such as a toilet and parts thereof including a toilet seat and lid. More specifically, the cleaning device has a handle attached to a releasable cartridge attached to a cleaning member. The cleaning device further includes a snap-on, spring-off cartridge mechanism for easily securing and releasing the cartridge. The cleaning device may further include a splash and ooze protector.  
      Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a cleaning device adapted to clean offensive or potentially offensive surfaces.  
      It is an object of the invention to provide a cleaning device with a changeable cartridge, and having a snap-on, spring-off cartridge release mechanism for easily changing the cartridge after use.  
      It is a further object of the invention to provide a cleaning device that has a grip handle attached to a disposable cartridge attached to a cleaning member.  
      Still another object of the invention is to provide an appropriately sized cleaning device made up of a grip handle and easily changed cartridge cleaning member, so that a number of the devices may be carried about by cleaning personnel.  
      It is another object of the invention to provide a cleaning device with a cleaning member that can be changed and substituted after use for a fresh cleaning member without exposing the operator to risk of contact or contamination that might emanate from a used cleaning member.  
      It is another object of the invention to provide a cleaning device that actively prevents a splash or ooze contaminating a user gripping the device.  
      It is a further object of the invention to provide a cleaning device having a cleaning member that is able to absorb and release a cleaning, disinfecting, and/or fragrant agent and release such agent.  
      It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
      These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a cleaning device according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the cleaning device of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 2B  is an exploded perspective view showing a cartridge member released from a handle member of a cleaning device according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2C  is a section view of a cartridge member releasably docked to a handle member of a cleaning device according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 3A  is a side view of a cartridge release mechanism of a cleaning device according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 3B  is a longitudinal section view of one end of a handle member of a cleaning device according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view, partially in section, of a cartridge member having a cleaning member attached to one end and a recess member at the other end for accepting one end of a cartridge release mechanism of a cleaning device according to the present invention. 
    
    
      Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The present invention is directed to cleaning implements. Specifically, the invention is a cleaning device  100  to clean a restroom&#39;s facilities, such as a toilet  120  and parts thereof including a toilet lid  125  and seat  130 . More specifically, the device  100  has a handle  140  attached to a releasable cartridge  160 , which, in turn, is attached to a cleaning member  180 . The releasable cartridge  160  may further comprise a splash and ooze protector  200 . The optional splash and ooze protector  200  may be made of any suitable material, such as foil and plastic.  
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of the cleaning device  100 . The cleaning device  100  is shown in use by an operator or person  220  to clean a toilet  120  and parts thereof. The cleaning member  180  is brought into contact with the toilet  120 , and more particularly, toilet surface  135 . A perspective view of the cleaning device  100  is shown in  FIG. 2A .  
      It should be understood that while the cleaning device  100  is particularly suited to cleaning a toilet  120 , the device  100  may be used to clean any suitable object or surface  135  that can benefit with a clean up using the cleaning device  100 .  
      Thus, the terms “restroom cleaning device” and “cleaning device  100 ” are hereinafter regarded as equivalent terms.  
      In more detail, the cleaning device  100  has a handle  140 , a cartridge release mechanism  280  (shown in  FIGS. 2C, 3A , and  3 B), a cartridge  160 , a cleaning member  180 , and an optional a splash and ooze protector  200 . The handle  140  has first  240  and second  260  opposite ends. The first end  240  is adapted to be gripped by a human operator  220 .  
      The cartridge  160  is attached to the opposite end of the handle  260  by means of a cartridge release mechanism  280 , described further below. The cartridge  160  defines first  360  and second  380  opposite ends. The cleaning member  180  is attached to the first end  360  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The first end  360  is configured to provide sufficient surface area for firmly attaching the cleaning member  180 . Glue or any suitable attachment means may be used to attach the cleaning member  180  to the first end  360 . The second end  380  is adapted to accommodate the first end  300  of the cartridge release mechanism  280 .  
      The cartridge release mechanism  280 , shown in  FIG. 3A , has first  300  and second  320  opposite ends, and a middle section  340 . A spring  440  is wrapped around the middle section  340 .  
      The first  300  and second  320  ends -define a hook  400  and a push down member  420 , respectively. The hook  400  is configured to slide into an elongated recess  460  in the second end  380  of the cartridge member  160 , as shown in  FIGS. 2B and 4 . The elongated recess  460  comprises a second recess  480 . The second recess  480  is configured to accommodate the hook  400  and thereby reversibly lock the cartridge  160  to the handle  140 . More specifically, the hook  400  attaches the cartridge end  380  to the handle end  260 , as shown in  FIGS. 2B and 2C .  
      When the cleaning device  100  has been used to clean, for example, a toilet lid  125  and seat  135 , the cartridge  160  (and by default the attached cleaning member  180 ) can be replaced by operating the cartridge release mechanism  280 .  
      Specifically, an operator  220  presses the push down member  420  to release the cartridge  160  and attached cleaning member  180 .  
      The operator  220  typically releases the cartridge  160  and attached cleaning member  180  into a suitable container, such as a foot operated disposal bin. A fresh cartridge  160  and attached cleaning member  180  are attached to the handle  140  by directing the now exposed hook  400  into the elongated recess  460 , as shown in  FIG. 2B .  
      It should be noted that the physical cleaning characteristics of the cleaning member  180  may vary to the extent that it might be desired to swap one cleaning member  180  for another cleaning member  180  that is more suitable for a particular cleaning task. The cartridge release mechanism  280  makes replacing and swapping cartridges  160  with attached cleaning members  180  both easy and hygienic.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the cleaning member  180  can be an elongated tubular cleaning pad. However, the cleaning member  180  may have a different shape with, for example, a square or rectangular cross section. The cleaning member  180  is made of any suitable cleaning material, such as natural or artificial sponge, cloth (e.g., absorbent cotton cloth), and chemically impregnated material, such as a cloth impregnated with any suitable cleaning and/or fragrant agent conventional in the art of cleaning and/or fragrance agents.  
      The handle end  260  has a generally tubular shaped elongated recess  500 . The recess  500  is sized to accommodate at least part of the cartridge release mechanism  280 , as shown in  FIG. 3B . A radial protrusion  520  enables the spring  440  to compress upon ingress of the cartridge end  380  into the recess  500 . The protrusion  520  defines an internal aperture  540  sized to accommodate the width of the central section  340  of the cartridge release mechanism  280 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 2C , a lever spring  560  ensures that the release mechanism  280  is biased to remain in a locked position with respect to the recess  480 . The hook  400  is biased to remain locked in recess  480  until the push member  420  is pressed down, causing the end  300  of the release mechanism  280  to pivot upwards, thereby releasing the hook  400  from recess  480 , whereupon the spring  440  drives the second end  380  to move out of the recess  500  and hence out of the second opposite end  260  of the handle  140 .  
      The radial protrusion  520  acts as a pivot with respect to the middle  340  of the release member  280 . Any suitable structure can be used to keep the spring  440  wrapped around the middle section  340  of the cartridge release mechanism  280 . For example, in  FIG. 3B  one end of the spring  440  is shown attached to the radial protrusion  520 .  
      The optional splash and ooze protector  200  is located between the cleaning member  180  and the second end  380  of the cartridge  160  to prevent ooze and splashes transferring to the handle. The cleaning member  180  is preferably made of a sponge-like material that is capable of absorbing a cleaning, disinfecting, and/or fragrant agent, and releases the agent when the member  180  is pressed against a surface  135  to be cleaned.  
      For example, a user  220  can apply pressure to the handle  140  to cause the member  180  to compress against the surface  135  and release a disinfecting agent onto the surface  135  to facilitate hygienic cleaning thereof.  
      Size of the invention is dictated by cost and ease of use considerations. By way of example only, the device could have an overall length of about twelve inches, with a cartridge length of about five inches, a diameter of about one inch, and the collar about the device that extends out only about ¼ inch.  
      It should be appreciated that there are occasions when it is desirable to release, for example, a fragrant or fruity smelling agent onto a surface  135  that requires cleaning. Bio-fouling of surfaces, for example the toilet seat, the lid, or the outer bowl surface that could come into contact with a user&#39;s legs, etc., can present a particular challenge, and a cleaning device such as that described and claimed herein is both desired and needed to meet such a challenge. In addition, a cleaning device that is designed to avoid ooze and/or splashes contaminating a handle  140  held, by an operator  220  is a desirable and needed feature. Still further, the invention provides a cleaning device capable of releasing a contaminated cleaning member  180  and replacing it with a fresh cleaning member without the operator  220  having to physically handle a soiled cleaning member  180  (and hence soiled cartridge  160 ). It will be understood that the cleaning device  100  is designed to combine such features in a single device.  
      It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.