Patent Publication Number: US-6981291-B2

Title: Motorized cleaning apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/717,956, filed Nov. 20, 2003, and entitled Grooming/Cleaning Apparatus which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/672,909, filed Sep. 26, 2003, and entitled Lint Removal Apparatus with Edge Orientation, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 

   BACKGROUND 
   This invention relates to cleaning apparatus and, in particular, to cleaning apparatus for dishes, glasses and tableware. 
   Cleaning apparatus for dishes, glasses and tableware has taken many shapes and forms. Brushes have been devised for cleaning the inside of glasses as well as to scrub hard-to-remove food from the surface of plates and tableware. 
   Certain brushes have been devised to carry a supply of cleaning fluid, such as dishwashing liquid, in a container which can be dispensed through the brush bristles by pushing a button on the brush handle. 
   Motorized dish cleaning devices have also been devised. Such motorized brushes include a handle which houses a motor and a battery power supply. The motor output shaft extends axially from the handle and receives a replaceable brush head in a snap-on fit. 
   However, it is believed that improvements can be made to motorized cleaning apparatus and, in particular, to motorized dish and glass and tableware cleaning apparatus. 
   SUMMARY 
   In one aspect of the present invention, a cleaning apparatus includes a support handle, a rotatable shaft of power drive means, axially extends from the handle, and a cleaning element mounted on the rotatable support. 
   In one aspect, the cleaning element is a mat having an exterior surface formed as a cleaning surface. A plurality of bristles may also extend from the support. 
   Clamp means may also be provided on the support or the mat or can be separably attachable to the support or the mat to clamp the mat to the support. 
   In another aspect, the cleaning element further includes an attachment carrying an auxiliary cleaning element mountable on the end of the support. The auxiliary attachment can be snap fit or threaded on the end of the support. Cleaning bristles of one or more different materials and/or shapes may be mounted on the attachment. 
   In another aspect, the support defines a liquid container for carrying a cleaning media, such as dishwashing liquid or water. An aperture is formed in the container for dispensing the cleaning media from the container to the cleaning element mounted about the support. In one aspect, the aperture dispenses the cleaning media from the container only during rotation of the support by the power drive means. 
   In another aspect, valve means is mounted in the aperture and moveable from a first position sealingly closing the aperture and a second position opening the aperture to fluid flow. In yet another aspect, the support means may be defined entirely by a liquid container which itself is connectable to the power drive means. The cleaning element is carried on at least one of a sidewall and an end wall of the container. 
   The motorized cleaning apparatus of the present invention provides an expeditious device to clean glasses, plates and tableware while at the same time allowing a number of different cleaning elements to be removably mounted on the rotatable support. 

   
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The various features, advantages and other uses of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawing in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a cleaning element according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a handle and spindle according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of another cleaning element; 
       FIG. 3B  is an end view of the cleaning element as shown in  FIG. 3A   
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a clamp usable with the cleaning element shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another aspect of a cleaning element or mat according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is an end view of the cleaning element shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another aspect of a cleaning element or mat according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a partial, perspective end view of the cleaning element or mat shown in  FIG. 7 , but depicted in a partially assembled position about a core; 
       FIG. 9  is a partially cross-section, side elevational view of another aspect of a cleaning element or mat with a pivotal clamp according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view generally taken along line  10 — 10  in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another aspect of a cleaning apparatus providing a rotatable spindle according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a side elevational view, with a portion of the housing removed, to show the internal components of the cleaning apparatus shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIGS. 13 ,  14  and  15  are perspective views of different aspects of the cleaning apparatus according to the present invention; 
       FIGS. 16 ,  17  and  18  are perspective views of other aspects of a cleaning apparatus according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 19  is an exploded, perspective view showing the elements of the cleaning apparatus shown in  FIG. 18 ; and 
       FIGS. 20 ,  21 ,  22 , and  23  are other aspects of a cleaning apparatus according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  depicts a cleaning element  500  usable on the present invention in which the cleaning element  500  includes a space  510  which is at least partially void of the projections  508 . A clamp, such as a hair barrette type clamp  514  is mounted on the mat and has a pivotal bar  516  which is extendable over a substantial portion of the width of the cleaning element  500 . A wipe sheet  512  can be wound around the cleaning element  500  and the ends clamped in place by clamping of the pivotal bar  516  and the remainder of the clamp on the cleaning element  500 . In this manner, the projections deform the sheet  512 . The wipe sheet, preferably is a non-woven spunlace fabric, 20 gsm to 120 gsm pre-treated with cleanser, etc. The preparation is either activated by water by the user or pre-moistened and ready to use. 
   In  FIG. 2 , a cleaning apparatus  640  is depicted. The apparatus  640  includes a handle assembly  642  formed of a substantially aesthetically shaped, rigid outer shell with moisture proof gasketing which may include one or more resilient material pads  644  to facilitate gripping. A removable or hinged battery cover  646  is attached to one end of the handle  642  to allow access to a battery compartment housed interiorly within the handle assembly  642 . 
   A drive motor means is mounted internally within the handle assembly  642 . A slow/fast speed control button  648  and a separate forward and reverse control button  650  are mounted on the handle assembly  642  and connected by switchable contacts to the motor housed within the handle assembly  642  for controlling the activation and deactivation of the motor as well as the direction of rotation of the motor shift. 
   In this aspect, the output shaft of the motor, not shown, is connected to a key slot or bore in a spindle  650  which is formed of a generally cylindrical body with a first annular flange  652  at one end adjacent to the handle assembly  642  and an enlarging or flange  654  at an opposite end. The flange  654  may have a plurality of radially extending discontinuities to form individual sections which are moveable to allow the mounting of a cleaning or grooming element thereover as described hereafter. A small gap or slot  656  is formed along the longitudinal length of the surface of the spindle  650  to allow a small degree of compression and expansion of the diameter of the spindle  650  to accommodate cleaning attachments. 
   A number of different cleaning attachments, some suited for general purpose cleaning of many different surfaces and articles, and others more specific for cleaning specific articles may be mounted on the spindle  650 . 
   One such cleaning element  660  is shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  4 . The element  660  is in the form of a mat or pad having a generally cylindrical shape when in a use position. The pad  660 , in this aspect is formed of a resilient material, such as an elastomer, rubber, or soft plastic having a substrate  662  from which radially project a plurality of conical or cylindrical bristles  664 . The bristles  664  are each resilient themselves and are arranged in close proximity to cover a substantial portion of the exterior of the substrate  662 . As shown in  FIG. 3B , a small nib  666  may optionally be formed on the end of each bristle  664 . 
   The substrate  662  and the bristle  664  may be molded or otherwise formed as a unitary; homogeneous member in either a sheet form or a closed, continuous cylindrical form. The use of a sheet form for the pad  660  enables mounting of the pad  660  over a generally tubular or cylindrical core  670 . The core  670  has a longitudinally extending clamp groove formed by opposed clamp surfaces  672  and  674 . Clamp surfaces  672  and  674 , which form one-half of a dove-tail shape, are adapted for receiving mating angled ends of the substrate  662  which snap-fit into the clamp groove to mount the substrate  662  about the core  670 . 
   A separate clamp  626  may then be mounted over any area or portion of the substrate  662 . In one aspect, the clamp  626  is mounted over a void or empty space along a longitudinal portion of the substrate  662 . The clamp  674  which is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 4 , is formed of a resilient material, such as an elastomer, rubber, soft plastic, etc. and has a strip-like main portion  676  with first and second opposed ends  678  and  680 . The strip portion  676  may include inward extending teeth or projections  682  to facilitate engagement with the substrate  662 . 
   The first and second ends  678  and  680  of the clamp  674  have inward extending ends with teeth or serrations  682  on an inner surface. The first and second ends are adapted to engage recesses formed at the end of the clamp groove in the core  670 , as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  to snap-fit the clamp  674  on the pad  660  so as to cover and retain the ends of the pad  660  in place on the core  670 . Optional teeth or projections form complementary to the teeth  682  on the inner surface of the ends  678  and  680  of clamp  674  may be formed in opposite ends of the core  670  to facilitate a secure, but releasable attachment of the clamp  674  to the core  670 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , there is depicted another mat or pad  690  mountable on the one of the spindles of the present invention. The pad  690  includes a plurality of larger conical shaped projections  692 , each terminating in a small nib  694 , by example only. The conical shaped projection  692  are somewhat randomly spaced about a substrate  696  with which they form a homogenous body. The substrate  696  may be formed as a continuous closed cylindrical member, or as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8 , as a sheet which wrapped around a tubular or cylyndrical core  698 . Opposed ends  700  and  702  of the sheet  696  are complementary shaped to inverted angled edges  704  and  706  in a longitudinally extending discontinuity in the core  698  so as to mount the ends of the substrate  696  in the core  698  in a snap-fit. In this aspect, a thin rib  708  extends from the core  698  intermediate the inward facing edges  704  and  706  to separate the ends of the substrate  696  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
   In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , there is depicted a similar pad  710  with a plurality of smaller projections  712  closely spaced on a substrate  714 . Each projection  712  terminates in an end nib  716 , again by example only. The substrate  714  is mounted on a core  718  by means of complementary recesses for receiving the dove-tail shaped ends  720  and  722 , of the sheet-like substrate  714  in a snap-in fit in the same manner as described above. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10  depict an alternate pad  720  according to another aspect of the present invention. The pad  720  includes a substrate  722  from which extend a plurality of generally conical shaped nib  724  similar to the nibs  664 . 
   The substrate  722  is by way of example only, divided in a sheet-like form with opposed ends terminating in fingers  726  and  728  which are spaced from the main portion of the substrate  722  by a slots  730  and  732 . The substrate  722  is mountable around a core  736  which has a generally tubular, cylindrical cross section. By way of example only, a plurality, such as three, circumferentially spaced ribs  738  are formed interiorly of the core  736  and extend between opposite ends of the core  736 . The rib  738 , which may be hollow, provide an orienting feature for mounting the core  736  to a mating motor driven spindle, described hereafter, which has a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses complimentary to the ribs  738  for slidably receiving the ribs  738  to mount the core  736  on the spindle. 
   The core  736  includes end fingers  740  and  742  which are circumferentially spaced apart and are adapted for engaging the slot  730  and  732  formed in the core  736  to mount the substrate  722  to the core  736 . When the ends  726  and  728  of the substrate  722  are mounted on the core  736 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , the inward facing surfaces of the ends  726  and  728  will be spaced apart by a channel. 
   A pivotal clamp member  746  in the form of an elongated bar which may have a smooth or toothed inner edge  748  pivotally connected at one end  750  to the core  736  by means of a pivot pin. The clamp  746  is pivotal from a first open position shown in  FIG. 9  allowing mounting or dismounting of the substrate  722  on the core  736  and a second closed position in which the inner surface  748  of the clamp  746  engages an inner surface of the core  736 . In this closed or second position, the clamp  746  is positioned between the inward facing ends of the substrate  722  thereby preventing dislodgement and separation of the ends  726  and  728  of the substrate  722  from the core  736 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , there is depicted another aspect a motorized cleaning apparatus  900  according to the present invention. The apparatus  900  includes a handle housing  902  with a pivotal or removable end cap  904  allowing access to an internal compartment for storage batteries  908 . 
   A bi-directionally rotatable motor  910  is mountable with in the housing  902 . The output shaft of the motor is coupled to a transmission or clutch  912 . An output shaft  914  projects from the transmission  912  externally at one end of the housing  902 . The output of drive shaft  914  is fixedly coupled to a rotatable support, such as a rotatable spindle  916  shown in  FIG. 11 . Although the spindle can take any cross-sectional shape, by way of example only, the spindle has a generally circular cross-section with a plurality, with three being depicted by way of example only, of longitudinally extending arcuate recesses  920 . The recesses  920  are adapted to mate with the longitudinally extending enlargement  738  in a cleaning element core or support as shown in  FIG. 10  to fixedly couple the cleaning element to the spindle  916  for bi-directional rotation with the spindle  916 . 
   An end cap  922  may be provided on one end of the spindle  916  to prevent the entry of water or debris into the typically hollow interior of the spindle  916 . 
   Similarly, a cap with a dependent sidewall  924  is formed at the other end of the spindle  916  and covers the open area or gap between the end of the spindle  916  and the adjacent end of the housing  902  to again prevent the entry of water or debris into contact with the drive shaft  914 . The buttons may be designed with elastomeric material to seal out water. 
   Suitable control switches or push buttons may be provided on the housing  902  to control the speed and the direction of rotation of the drive shaft  914 . A forward and reverse slide or rocker switch  926  may be mounted on the housing. The switch activates contacts for micro switches  928  and  930 , shown in  FIG. 12 , are mounted on a circuit board  932  in the housing  902 . Conductors or wires extend from the circuit board  932  to the motor  910  to supply electric power from the batteries  908  to the motor  910 . A speed control switch  936 , depicted as having two speeds, namely, fast and slow, is also mounted on the housing  902 . The switch  936  is also connected to contacts or a microswitch  938  on the circuit board  932  and, controls the polarity of the electric power supply to the motor  910  to control the direction of rotation of the output drive shaft  914  of the motor  910 . 
   It will be understood that the motor  910  may also be a single direction rotatable motor. The motor may also provide one or more speeds. Thus, the motor  910  can provide a single speed of rotation in a single direction, one or more selectable speeds of rotation in one or more directions of rotation, or a variable speed of rotation in one or more directions. 
   It will also be noted that in all aspects of the invention which mount a motor in the cleaning apparatus, a sound proofing material, such as the foam material used to form compressible ear plugs, which may have a high noise filtration (NRR) of 33 decibels, for example, may be mounted on or applied to the exterior or interior of the handle depending on the suitability of the selected material for use as an external gripping surface or, when mounted internally within the handle, having suitable temperature resistance, electrical and vibration absorbing insulative properties. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 13 , there is depicted the core  736  which fits over the mandrel or spindle coupled to and rotated by the motor output shaft extending axially from the handle shown in  FIG. 2 . A pivotal clamp bar  162  is coupled to the core  736  and is devised for clamping various cleaning elements on the core  736 , as described hereafter. 
   An end bristle attachment  164  may be permanently or separably mounted by a snap-fit, for example, to an end  166  of the core  736 . The attachment  164  includes a base  168  from which extend a plurality of bristles  170 . The bristles may be formed of a soft material, such as nylon for scrubbing the ends of glasses, dishes as well as tableware, as well as radiused areas of pots and pans. 
   Referring briefly to  FIG. 15 , a different arrangement of bristles in which the nylon brush bristles  170  alternate with harder, rubber or elastomeric bristles  172 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 14 , the surface of the core  736  may be covered by a fixed or removable soft material, such as a soft sponge or foam  174  to enable the attachment to conform to the shape of dishes, glasses, etc. In the attachment  176  shown in  FIG. 14 , an end attachment  178  is illustrated by example only as carrying semi-rigid rubber or elastomeric bristles  180 . The attachment  178  is fixedly mounted on one end of the core  736  or is separably attached thereto by a screw or snap-on connection. 
   A separate cleaning element  182  may be removably mounted about the core  736 . The cleaning element  182  can be any cleaning element suitable for cleaning dishes, tableware, glasses, etc. For example, a Palmolive brand wipe  182  is shown in  FIG. 15 . This dish wipe  182  is a sturdy triple layer wipe which is pre-treated with dishcleaning liquid and supplied dry so as to be water activated. The wipe  184  depicted by example in  FIG. 14  is a Church and Dwight Brillo brand Scrub and Toss Scrubber with a soft side  186  and a scouring side  188 . 
   Both wipes  182  and  184  can be supplied in a cylindrical shape and press fit over the core  736 . This enables the wipes  182  and  184  to be easily disposed of and replaced with a fresh wipe to prevent the growth of bacteria. 
   The wipes  182  and  184  can also be provided in a mat or sheet form and wound about the core  736 . The ends of the wipes  182  and  184  may be releasably fixed on the core  736  by means of the pivotal clamp  162  which is pivoted and locked in general parallel alignment with the core  736  over the ends of the cleaning elements  182  and  184 . 
     FIGS. 16 ,  17 ,  18  and  19  depict alternate cleaning elements mountable on the core  736 . In  FIG. 16 , a round foam or sponge  190  is fixed about one end of the core  736 . The foam or sponge element  190  extends over at the least the end portion and preferably, over a considerable length of the core  736 . In  FIG. 17 , a cleaning element  192  having an irregular, elongated shape is mounted over the core  736  and covers substantially all the core  736 . The cleaning element  192  may also be formed of a foam or sponge material. 
     FIGS. 18 and 19  depict an “octopus” cleaning element in which a sheet of foam or sponge material is formed with aligned pairs of edge cuts. The solid center portion of the sheet is forced through an aperture  196  in a holder  198  which is snap engagable in one end of the core  736  by means of inter-fitting end shapes or attached to the motor shaft. 
   In forming the cleaning element  194 , a solid sheet is formed with aligned pairs of edge cuts. The solid center portion of the sheet is forced through an aperture  196  and a holder  198  causing the cut ends to project erratically in a generally irregular spherical shape as shown in  FIG. 19 . The holder  196  is removably coupled to one end of the core  736  by means of a complementary recess in the end of the core or by means of a suitable chuck on the end of the core  736 . Alternately, the holder  196  may be formed with a suitably shaped internal bore which receives one end of a spindle extending outward from the motor in the handle. 
     FIGS. 20 and 21  respectively depict cleaning elements  197  and  199  releasably or fixedly mounted on the core  736 . The cleaning element  197  includes a scouring surface  200  which may be formed of a rough surface or bristles formed of nylon, etc. A sponge or foam exterior section  202  is formed along the edges and end of the portion  200 . 
   The cleaning element  199  shown in  FIG. 21  also has a generally rectangular shape, in this example, is formed entirely of sponge or foam. 
     FIG. 22  depicts the cleaning element  199  shown in  FIG. 21  and described above mounted on a body  210  which is formed as a liquid holder and dispenser container. One end  212  of the body  210  is formed with external threads, by example only. The threads engage mating threads  216  in a chuck  218  which is releasably attachable to the spindle or output shaft of the motor in the handle. When the body  210  is unthreaded from the chuck  216 , an opening  222  is exposed in the end of the body  210  which can be used as a filling aperture for adding a fluid cleaner to the container or body  210 . The threads on the body  210  are formed to thread on to the threads  216  in the chuck  218  oppositely from the direction of rotation of the motor output shaft to prevent unthreading of the body  210  motor operation. 
   An aperture  224  is formed in the container  210  in a location which will be encompassed by the cleaning element  198 . It will be understood that any of the cleaning elements described above, such as cleaning elements  182 ,  184 ,  190 ,  192 ,  194  and  198  may also be employed with the liquid dispensing body  210 . 
   The aperture  224  is precisely sized to allow the liquid contents of the container  210  to be centrifugally flung outward into the cleaning element  198  during rotation of the body  210  by the drive motor in the handle. Since the cleaning element  198  will be wet, the cleaning liquid will create suds to facilitate cleaning of dishes, glasses, tableware, etc. 
     FIG. 23  depicts an alternate aspect in which the liquid dispenser body  210 , with or without the dispensing aperture  224  in sidewall, is provided with an aperture  230  in an end wall  232 . A movable plunger  234  is retained in the aperture  230  and has an end extending therethrough in the bristles  236  on an end attachment cap  238  which is threaded or snap fit to the end of the container  210 . Engagement of the bristles  236  with an object to be cleaned will deform the bristles  236  sufficiently to enable the plunger  234  to be forced into the interior of the container  210  thereby opening the aperture  230  and allowing the dispensing of liquid cleaner from the container  210  to the bristles  236  wherein it is applied to the object being cleaned. Separation of the bristles  236  from the object being cleaned causes the plunger  236  to extend to its fullest extent through the aperture  230  sealing the aperture  230  and preventing the further flow of liquid from the interior of the container  210  through the aperture  230 . 
   It will be noted that the aperture  230  may be used by itself or in conjunction with the sidewall aperture  234  where a separate cleaning element is mounted about the sidewall of the container  210 . 
   It will also be noted that the aperture  222  in the liquid container  210 , shown in  FIG. 22  may be provided with a removable plug or cap which holds the liquid cleaner in the container  210  in the replacement package used to sell the liquid container  210  and attached cleaning elements as a replaceable cleaning element attachable to a handle of the present invention as well as after each refilling of the container with new liquid cleaner. 
   It will also be understood that the liquid container  210  shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23  may be used to serve the same function as the core  736 . In this aspect, the liquid container  210  receives an end bristle attachment, such as attachment  238  shown in  FIG. 22  by itself or alternately only or in combination with the end attachment  238  a cleaning element mounted about the sidewall of the container  210 , such as the cleaning element  198  shown in  FIG. 22  or in any of the other cleaning elements described above. Any cleaning element mounted on the sidewall of the container  210  can be permanently affixed, provided in a snap-over cylindrical fit or applied in a mat form and wound about the sidewall  210  and held in place by a clamp, clip or other fastener means.