Patent Publication Number: US-7213291-B2

Title: Cleaning device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to cleaning devices of a type sometimes referred to a lint removers. 
   2. Prior Art 
   Cleaning devices having a roll of adhesive coated sheet material, typically crepe paper, rolled adhesive coated surface outward and mounted for rotation about the axis of the roll are well known. The adhesive coated surface picks up lint, hair, dandruff, etc. when rolled over clothes, furniture, etc. until the adhesive coating looses its effectiveness because of the amount of foreign matter it has picked up. When this occurs, the cleaning ability may be restored by removing the used outer turn of adhesive coated paper to expose a fresh adhesive coated surface. 
   Although much thought has been given to how to neatly tear away the used adhesive crepe paper, manufacturers are generally not willing to fit sharp metal blades to such devices for reasons of cost and safety. There are two solutions that are found among products of this category. These are to either cut a straight line slightly narrower than the adhesive paper across the adhesive paper roll, or to provide perforated lines in the paper. However the adhesive paper is very thin, and each layer is adhered tightly to the next layer. Therefore it is very difficult to peel away a layer of the paper, especially for users without long fingernails. Furthermore, when the edge of thin adhesive paper is broken in an irregular fashion, it is prone to ripping on the edges when being peeled, making it more difficult to change paper, and possibly even resulting in new adhesive paper underneath also being damaged and wasted. 
   In order to achieve a thin adhesive paper that is easy to peel away, conventional products of the same category all use complex technology to apply an adhesive substance to the center of the paper backing, leaving the two sides free from adhesive, and making the backing easy to peel away. However, when peeling away and changing the paper, it is easy to tear a single layer of paper, which results in additional trouble. 
   Also conventional products of the same category are one-piece club-shaped assemblies from the fitting of the adhesive paper to the location of the handgrip and are without a function of folding and opening. They are relatively large in size and also require the addition of a special adhesive protection sheet or coating to cover the adhesive paper, and this presents considerable technical difficulties. The covering and disassembling actions are extremely troublesome and inconvenient. Furthermore, if the protective sheet is lost, there is no way to protect the adhesive paper. Additionally, the smoothness of rotation of the adhesive paper is not as good as that of our company&#39;s design. 
   A lint remover having a sticky soft plastic roller uses a folding housing which folds around the roller for protection when not in use, and which opens to form a handle-like protrusion. The housing does not tightly lock in the open position, nor in the closed position, as it has not catch or lock at the ends opposite the hinge area. Also when in the open position, the surface of the handle-like protrusion does not align with the surface of the other housing part, so that the housing, when open, does not have an aesthetically pleasing appearance. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a view of one embodiment of a cleaning device in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3   a  is a view of the cleaning device of  FIG. 1  in the open, ready to use condition. 
       FIG. 3   b  is a local cross section taken along line  3   b — 3   b  of  FIG. 3   a.    
       FIG. 3   c  is a local cross section taken along line  3   c — 3   c  of  FIG. 3   a.    
       FIG. 4  is a view illustrating the unrolling one layer of used adhesive coated sheet material and aligning the slit at one edge thereof with a sharp edge on one of the body members of the device. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the pinching of the adhesive coated sheet material against a sharp edge of one of the body members and the tearing of one layer of used material therefrom. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross section illustrating the state of the adhesive coated sheet material after one turn of used material has been torn away. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the folding back of the free edge of the adhesive coated sheet material after a used portion has been torn therefrom, thereby providing a double thickness edge on the roll of adhesive coated sheet material to facilitate the later unwinding of another layer of used material. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   First referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a view of one embodiment of the present invention cleaning device in the closed condition and an exploded view of the cleaning device in the open condition, respectively, may be seen. The cleaning device of this embodiment is comprised of first and second body members, generally indicated by the numerals  20  and  22 , which when in the closed condition shown in  FIG. 1 , form a substantially continuous surface along the length of the closed device. In that regard, in the specific embodiment shown, the body members are substantially semicircular, thereby forming a substantially round cross section cylindrical enclosure when closed, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   The body members are hinged together adjacent the upper end (using the orientation of  FIG. 1 ) with each body member having a pair of hinge members complimentary to the hinge members on the other body member. In the specific embodiment shown, body member  20  has ear shaped hinge members  24  having inwardly projecting hinge pins  26  which may be snapped into holes  28  in projections  30  on body member  22 . 
   Also visible in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are inward projections  32  on the ear shaped hinge members  24  on body member  20 , cooperatively disposed with respect to complimentary grooves  34  in projections  30  of body member  22 . As may be seen in  FIG. 1  and in the cross section of  FIG. 3   b  taken along line  3   b — 3   b  of  FIG. 3   a , the projections  32  snap into grooves  34  when the two body members are folded on the hinges to the closed position of  FIG. 1 , or to the open position as shown in  FIG. 3 . Also, in the specific embodiment shown, a hook latch member  36  is molded integral with body member  22  to hook onto region  38  of body member  20 , thereby providing complimentary snap members for further holding the cleaning device in the closed position shown in  FIG. 1 . In the preferred embodiment the body members  20  and  22  are injected molded plastic members having adequate flexibility to allow the complimentary hinge parts to snap together and to resist opening from the closed position and closing from the opening position. Similarly, the operation of the complimentary snap members  36  and  38  is facilitated by the flexibility and elasticity of the plastic. 
   Also partially visible in  FIG. 1  is an opening  25  in body member  22 . This opening may be used for hanging cleaning devices on a display rack, such as at the point of sale, and for hanging in a users closet if desired. 
   As may be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3   a , mounted within body member  22  is a roll of adhesive coated sheet material  40  mounted on reusable end pieces  42  which slip into the ends of the roll  40  and have short, outward extending bearing shafts  44  for snapping within openings  46  in body member  22 . The roll  40  in the preferred embodiment is comprised of a tube  48 , such as a cardboard tube, with an adhesive coated sheet material  50  rolled adhesive side out on the cardboard  48 . In the preferred embodiment, the adhesive coated sheet material is an adhesive coated crepe paper. 
   As may be seen in  FIG. 2 , the roll of adhesive coated sheet material  40  has a small slit  52  at one end thereof, the slit  52  going through all layers of the multi-layer roll, typically also going partway, if not all of the way, through the cylinder  48  on which it is rolled. 
   In use, the cleaning device is opened as shown in  FIG. 7 . The outer contour of the body members  20  and  22  provide a substantially uninterrupted surface, serving both an aesthetic and a functional purpose in that the cleaning device may be comfortably gripped by body member  20 , as shown in  FIG. 3   a , or with the user&#39;s hand spanning both body members, or if desired, gripping only body member  22 . Also when in the open position shown in  FIG. 3   a , a small lip  54  on body member  22  snaps into a complimentary recess in member  20  as shown in  FIG. 3   c . In the preferred embodiment, the parts are made with dimensions such that because of the relative location of the hinge axis defined by complimentary hinge members, there is a slight interference between lip  54  and the leading edge  56  of the recess in body member  20 . This further enhances the snap action for snapping the cleaning device open and for retention of the two body members in the open position. 
   In use, the adhesive coated roll  40  may be rolled over clothes, furniture, carpets and the like to pick up hair, lint and other debris by the stickiness of the adhesive coated roll  40 . After some continued use the roll will begin to lose its stickiness, and accordingly, its efficiency in picking up further debris becomes limited. When this happens, a single turn of sheet material is unrolled from the roll  40  (see  FIG. 4 ) so that the next slit  52  aligns with the outer edge  58  of body member  22 . Then the two body members  20  and  22  are closed as shown in  FIG. 5 . It will be noted from  FIG. 6  that one of the body members has a relatively sharp outer edge  60 , with the complimentary body member having an incline  62  to cooperatively engage the relatively sharp edge  60 . Thus by holding the two body members closed as in  FIG. 5 , the adhesive coated sheet material  50  is squeezed or pinched between the sides of the two body members. This, in cooperation with the slit aligned with the sharp edge  60  to facilitate initiation of tearing, allows the tearing of exactly one turn of the used adhesive coated sheet material  50 ,  FIG. 6  showing a cross section after the tearing is complete. Now on opening of the cleaning device, the free edge  64  (see  FIG. 6 ) that was pinched between the two body members may freed by rotating the roll, and when freed, the free end of the adhesive coated sheet material may be folded back 180° to form a strip  66  (see  FIG. 7 ) that is folded, adhesive side versus adhesive side, to create a double thickness leading edge on the roll. While this creates a narrow strip of the uncoated side of the sheet material across the adhesive coated roll  40 , it is relatively narrow and has very little effect on the cleaning ability of the adhesive coated roll. However, once the newly exposed turn of adhesive coated sheet material becomes depleted through use, the double thickness leading edge of that layer is very much less prone to ripping, thereby greatly facilitating the peeling of an additional turn from the roll for tearing off, etc. to expose still another fresh adhesive coated surface. 
   Thus the structure and operation of the product has many differences and advantages over conventional products of the same category. The preferred embodiment is comprised of a cylindrical receptacle using a roll of adhesive crepe paper, the ends of which are fitted with round plastic fasteners and then enclosed by two plastic casings. Utilizing the sticking power of the adhesive paper, lint, fibers, hair, dandruff and scraps of paper that have fallen onto clothing, pillows, fabric covered furniture and fabric covered car seats can be rolled clean. It can also be used for cleaning away mess left behind by pets, such as dog or cat hairs, etc. 
   The product&#39;s innovative features include a new method for neatly tearing the adhesive coated sheet material, preferably adhesive coated paper. Specifically, a small cut or slit is pre-cut on the edge of the roll of adhesive paper so that when the adhesive paper is covered in lint and other residue and begins to lose its adhesive effect, users can peel the used adhesive paper back to the small cut at the position of a sharp angle edge on the receptacle. Closing the receptacle re-fastens the adhesive paper. Users can tear away used adhesive paper by hand from the point of the small cut and a tidy tear of the adhesive paper can be achieved without using sharp blades. 
   The product&#39;s innovative features also include a new method for the perfect formation of easy peeling of the adhesive coated paper. After completing the key action of neatly tearing away the adhesive paper, one can open the receptacle and use their hand to rotate the adhesive paper slightly in a pulling out direction, enabling the neat tear of the adhesive paper to leave the sharp angled edge of the receptacle. This also enables one to obtain just the right length of adhesive paper to match the casing. 
   After that, the free end of the roll of adhesive paper is wound back to perfectly form a paper head the thickness of two layers of adhesive. This not only allows users to peel away and change paper easily, but also greatly increases the strength of the paper edge, preventing it from ripping when attempting to peel back another layer. Without using this method, because the adhesive paper is very thin and is adhered tightly to the lower layer, it would be very difficult to peel away paper, especially so for users without long fingernails. Furthermore, when the edge of thin adhesive paper is broken in an irregular fashion, it is prone to ripping on the edges when being peeled, making it more difficult to change paper and possibly even resulting in new adhesive paper underneath also being damaged and wasted. 
   The product&#39;s innovative features further include an original multi-functional plastic receptacle. When the receptacle is opened 180 degrees, the body members work together with ergonomic principles and can be used as a gripping handle. The hidden locking fastener inside the receptacle is both easy to open and can be closed tightly in all safety. It also provides the greatest level of protection against adhesive sticking to unwanted areas when not in use, and dust, lint and other floating substances in the air sticking to the adhesive paper and reducing its adhesive effect. Also the contact area between the rotating axle centers of the fasteners or reusable end caps  42  supporting the roll of adhesive paper is very small and has a low friction coefficient, allowing the adhesive paper to roll extremely smoothly and easily. 
   The method used by the sharp angled edge of the receptacle and the casing to grip the adhesive paper allows for the neat breaking of paper and also allows the leading edge of the paper to stand up in a regular fashion. This enables users to easily bend back and form a leading edge that can be easily peeled away. 
   When the adhesive characteristics of the outer layer of the roll of adhesive paper is depleted and needs to be replaced, one can use their fingers to grasp the two circular fasteners to take off the paper core. In that regard, the outer surface  70  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the reusable end caps  42  is intentionally patterned in some way to provide a non-slip gripping surface. The two circular fasteners  42  can then be fitted to a new roll of adhesive paper and that assembly fastened into the body member  22  by first inserting one bearing shaft  44  ( FIG. 2 ) into one of the openings  46  in body member  22 , and then squeezing the other fastener into the remaining opening  46 . 
   The opening joint of the receptacle is made up of two ear-shaped fasteners that fasten to the two openings on the other half of the receptacle and allow a 180-degree opening action. At the same time, the inherent elasticity of plastic is utilized in an arched channel that extends out and prevents the handgrip from swinging freely when fastened. To close the receptacle, one merely has to fold the handgrip gently by hand and it will release and close. The shape of the receptacle is pocket-sized and not awkward. It can be stably placed in a vertical position and can also be hung from a hole. These features make it very convenient to display, carry or store. 
   A new and unique cleaning device having a number of features has been disclosed herein. However it is to be understood that each of these features may be advantageously practiced alone, or practiced in various combinations and sub-combinations in products of the described type. Thus while a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed and described herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.