Patent Publication Number: US-6663309-B2

Title: Cleaning utensil

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This application relates to cleaning utensils and, in particular, to utensils of the type including a cleaning medium communicable with a reservoir of cleaning fluid. 
     Various types of cleaning implements in the nature of brushes and the like, have long been known. Such implements typically include a handle portion and a head or working portion including a cleaning medium, such as brush bristles, a sponge, or the like. It is also known to provide such cleaning devices with a reservoir for a fluid, such as a cleaning fluid, as well as a dispensing mechanism for dispensing cleaning fluid from the reservoir into the cleaning medium. This dispensing mechanism typically includes a valve mechanism. Such valves increase the expense of manufacturer and assembly of the device, a situation which may be exacerbated by the fact that the entire device must be replaced when the cleaning medium wears out. 
     SUMMARY 
     This application discloses an improved cleaning utensil and method of using same which avoids the disadvantages of prior utensils and methods while affording additional structural and operating advantages. 
     An important aspect is the provision of a cleaning utensil with a replaceable cleaning head. 
     In connection with the foregoing aspect, another aspect is the provision of a replaceable cleaning head for such a utensil. 
     A still further aspect is the provision of a utensil of the type set forth, with a fluid reservoir and means for dispensing the fluid from the reservoir to a cleaning medium. 
     Yet another aspect is the provision of a method of using a cleaning utensil of the type set forth, involving alternate compression and expansion of a compressible cleaning medium to facilitate drawing of cleaning fluid from the reservoir. 
     Certain ones of these and other aspect may be attained by providing a replaceable cleaning head for a cleaning utensil comprising a rigid core having a handle end and a working end, coupling structure on the handle end of the core adapted to be coupled to an associated handle, and a flexible, resilient, porous, absorbent cleaning medium mounted on the core and covering the core except for the coupling structure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings an embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of a cleaning utensil; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged, front elevational view of the assembled cleaning utensil of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line  3 — 3  in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the handle of the cleaning utensil of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the Line  5 — 5  in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the grip of the utensil of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the grip FIG. 6, as viewed from the lower end thereof; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the lower end of the handle of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the cap of the handle of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged, perspective view of the head core of the utensil of FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the core FIG.  10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, there is illustrated a cleaning utensil, generally designated by the numeral  20 , having a replaceable cleaning head  50 . The utensil  20  includes an elongated handle  21  having a generally tubular body  22  and defining a cylindrical passage extending longitudinally therethrough and forming a chamber  23 . The body  22  has a reduced-diameter grip end  24  provided with two diametrically opposed rows of longitudinally spaced prongs  25 , each of which is generally triangular and transverse cross-section (see FIG.  5 ), sloping radially outwardly and downwardly toward the opposite end of the body  22 . Also, projecting radially outwardly from the grip end  24  at diametrically opposed locations at the proximal end of the grip end  24  are projections or lugs  26 . The handle is provided with a cap  27  having a circular end plate  28  integral with a reduced-diameter, hollow, cylindrical hub  29  dimensioned to fit within the distal end of the grip end  24  to close that end of the chamber  23  (see FIGS.  3  and  9 ). 
     The handle body  22  also has, at a head end opposite the grip end  24 , a reduced diameter neck  30  which is provided with coupling structure including an external helical thread  31 . Referring also to FIG. 8, the distal end of the neck  30  has a further reduced-diameter portion  32  having a circumferential groove  33  formed therein for receiving an  0 -ring  34  (FIGS.  1  and  3 ). 
     The cleaning utensil  20  also includes a grip  40  having an elongated, generally oval-shaped shaped body  41  provided at one end with an axial socket bore  42 . Formed in the bore  42  adjacent to the open end thereof at diametrically opposed locations are two recesses  43 . Formed through the body  41  at the opposite end of the grip  40  is a hole  44  to facilitate hanging the utensil. Formed in the outer surface of the grip body  41  at the forward end thereof are two diametrically opposed concave recesses  45 . The grip  40  has a plurality of axially-spaced peripheral flanges or ribs  46  which extend around the entire periphery of the grip body  41  in the region of the recesses  45 , forming in the recesses  45  flexible and resilient fins. The grip  40  and, in particular, the finned recesses thereof, are substantially of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. RE 37,190, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference and may be referred to for structural and functional details. 
     In assembly, the grip end  24  of the handle body  22  is press-fitted in the socket bore  42  of the grip  40 , until the open end of the grip body  41  seats against the shoulder defined at the forward end of the grip end  24 . The parts are so dimensioned that during this mounting operation, the prongs  25  will dig into the material of the grip body  41  to inhibit axial removal of the grip  40 . The grip  40  is mounted so that the projections  26  will be respectively received in the recesses  43  to inhibit relative rotational movement of the handle body  22  and grip body  41 . The handle body  22  may be formed of a suitable rigid plastic material, while the grip body  41  may be formed of a flexible and resilient plastic material, such as that sold under the trade name SANTOPRENE. 
     Referring also to FIGS. 10 and 11, the cleaning head  50  includes a rigid core  51  and a cleaning medium  60  formed of a suitable flexible, resilient, porous and absorbent material. The core  51  is generally cylindrical in shape, having a generally tubular sidewall  52  closed at a working end thereof by an end wall  53  having an orifice  54  formed therethrough centrally thereof Integral with the open or handle end of the sidewall  52  and projecting axially therefrom is an enlarged-diameter, generally cylindrical neck  55  provided with coupling structure including an internal helical thread  56  (see FIGS. 10 and 11) and having a reduced-diameter, substantially cylindrical sealing surface  57  inwardly of the thread  56 . Forming the outer surface of the neck  55  are a plurality of axially elongated and circumferentially spaced, generally oval-shaped recessed  58  to provide an improved gripping surface. The hollow core  51  defines therein a cavity  59 . 
     The cleaning medium  60  may be formed of a spongy material, such as a suitable synthetic foam material, and has a generally cylindrical body  61  provided with a reduced-diameter neck  62  at one end thereof. Formed in the neck  62  and extending axially into the body  61  is an elongated cylindrical socket  63 . Formed in the outer surface of the body  61  are a plurality of axially spaced, circumferentially extending recesses  64 , which cooperate to define radially outwardly projecting circumferential projections  65 . The body  61  has a flat, circular, distal end surface  66 . In assembly, the head core  51  is fitted into the socket  63  of the cleaning medium  60 , until the neck  62  of the cleaning medium  60  seats against the neck  55  of a head core  51 . The parts maybe secured together, as by a suitable adhesive. 
     In use, the chamber  23  in the handle  21  may be filled with a suitable cleaning fluid, such as a liquid soap, through the neck  30 . Then, the cleaning head  50  is mounted in place on the handle  21  by threading the core neck  55  onto the handle neck  30 . When thus assembled, the  0 -ring  34  will be disposed in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the sealing surface  57  of the head core  51 , as can best be seen in FIG.  3 . When thus assembled, the head cavity  59  communicates with the handle chamber  23  and cooperates therewith to define a reservoir for the fluid, the O-ring seal preventing leakage around the threadedly-engaged necks. This fluid may pass into the cleaning medium  60  through the orifice  54 . 
     In order to facilitate the discharge of cleaning fluid into the cleaning medium  60 , the circumferential recesses and projections  64  and  65  on the cleaning medium  60  facilitate axial compression and expansion thereof, as by pressing the flat end surface  66  of the cleaning  60  medium against an associated surface. This creates a suction effect to facilitate drawing the fluid from the reservoir through the orifice  54  and into the cleaning medium  60 . Also, the circumferential projections  65  are useful for insertion into crevices or recesses in objects being cleaned to facilitate the cleaning operation. 
     It will be appreciated that, when the cleaning medium  60  wears out, the cleaning head  50  is readily replaceable by simply unscrewing from the handle  21  and screwing on a replacement head. 
     From the foregoing, it can be seen that there has been provided an improved cleaning utensil, a replaceable head therefore and a method of operation thereof, which are characterized by simple and economical construction and a unique ergonomic design. 
     The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While a particular embodiment has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants&#39; contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.