Patent Publication Number: US-8984701-B2

Title: Flexible handle for cleaning tools

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates generally to the field of cleaning tools. In particular, the invention relates to handles for use with floor cleaning tools. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The prior art includes a wide range of handles for brooms, other floor cleaning tools such as the SWIFFER® cleaning device, as well as powered and unpowered sweepers and vacuum devices. Prior art devices have failed to effectively provide a handle that is rigid for use in cleaning open floor spaces, but can quickly and easily be adjusted to be sufficiently flexible to extend under counters, coffee tables, chairs, or other furniture to clean floor areas beneath such obstacles without bending over. The present invention provides a simple, effective solution that allows the user to easily switch between a rigid handle and a flexible handle as they are cleaning. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A handle for a cleaning tool comprising at least two handle segments attached to each other by a flexible connector, a movable rigid sleeve that extends over the entire flexible connector and a portion of each handle segment such that it prevents the flexible connector from bending, wherein, the movable rigid sleeve can slide to a position where it does not extend over the flexible connector, allowing the flexible connector to bend relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the flexible connector is a coil spring, or may have one or more joints that provide lateral rigidity to it. In an exemplary embodiment, the handle segments comprise a detent mechanism that is biased normal to the longitudinal axis of the handle, or radially outward from the handle segment and extend out from the outer surface of the handle segment. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the movable rigid sleeve is held in a position where it extends over the entire flexible connector and a portion of each handle segment by the ends of the detent mechanism. In another exemplary embodiment, the upper end of the movable rigid sleeve is flared outward such that it can be moved axially over the ends of the detent mechanism, and the ends of the detent mechanism exert a force on the inside surface of the movable rigid sleeve sufficient to hold it in position while the handle is used. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a handle for a cleaning tool comprises at least two handle segments attached to each other by a flexible connector, and a movable rigid rod extending through the flexible connector and into a portion of each handle segment such that it prevents the flexible connector from bending, wherein, the movable rigid rod can slide to a position where it does not extend completely through the flexible connector, allowing the flexible connector to bend relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of a flexible handle for a cleaning tool with three segments not connected. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of a flexible handle for a cleaning tool with three segments connected. 
         FIG. 3A  is a diagram showing a detailed view of a flexible handle segment with the rigid tubular sleeve completely covering the flexible connector. 
         FIG. 3B  is a diagram showing a detailed view of a flexible handle segment with the rigid tubular sleeve partially covering the flexible connector. 
         FIG. 3C  is a diagram showing a detailed view of a flexible handle segment with the rigid tubular sleeve pulled up to completely expose the flexible connector. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram showing a detailed view of a flexible handle segment with the rigid tubular sleeve pulled up to completely expose the flexible connector and the flexible connector in the flexed position. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of a flexible handle for a cleaning tool in the flexed position during use. 
         FIG. 6A  is a partial cutaway diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of a flexible handle segment in the flexible position. 
         FIG. 6B  is a partial cutaway diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of a flexible handle segment in the rigid position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. For purposes of explanation, specific nomenclature is set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Descriptions of specific embodiments or applications are provided only as examples. Various modifications to the embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest possible scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. Moreover, while the present invention is discussed herein primarily with respect to a floor mop, it will be understood that the present invention can be used with other types of cleaning tools, including tools for cleaning walls and ceilings. 
     In the present disclosure, various devices are described and set forth with regard to several embodiments. It is contemplated that features of the disclosed embodiments may be combined in any manner as may be desired for various applications and implementations. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , an exemplary embodiment of the invention consists of a floor mop  100  comprising a mop head  102  and a handle  104  that may be pivotally connected to the mop head  102  by a universal joint  106 . The mop head  102  shown herein is purely exemplary and it will be understood that the present invention can be used with any type of mop head or other cleaning implement attached to handle  104 . The mop head  102  may be configured to clean any type or kind of surface and it may be attached to the handle  104  by any type of suitable joint or connection. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the handle  104  may comprise a hollow metal tube, and may be divided into a plurality of handle segments that are connected together. In an exemplary embodiment the handle  104  is divided into an upper segment  108 , a middle segment  110 , and a lower segment  112  that attaches to the mop head  102 . These handle segments may be connected together to form the handle  104  by any suitable means commonly used to connect hollow tubular structures. One common method for connecting the handle segments is to taper one end of a segment so that it can be received into the corresponding end of the connecting segment. The handle segments can be held together by a variety of different mechanisms including threads, friction, or a mechanical device such as a spring-biased detent. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, one or more of the handle segments is further divided into two segment ends  114  and  116  which are held together by a flexible connector  118  such as coil spring that is secured within each of the two segment ends. The divided handle segment has a rigid tubular sleeve  120  that can slide over the outside of the divided handle segment along the longitudinal axis of the handle  104 , and which is long enough to completely cover the space between the two segment ends where the flexible connector is exposed and extend some distance further over the two segment ends. 
     When positioned so that it completely covers the flexible connector  118 , the rigid tubular sleeve  120  prevents the flexible connector  118  from bending, such that the divided handle segment is axially rigid across its entire length. However, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , if the rigid tubular sleeve  120  is moved so that it no longer covers the flexible connector  118 , the divided handle segment is free to bend in accordance with the flex characteristics of the flexible connector  118 . When such a divided handle segment is incorporated into a handle  104 , it provides a point on the handle  104  where the user can selectively provide for flexibility during use. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a handle has a divided middle segment  110  with its two segment ends  114  and  116  connected by a flexible connecter  118  in the form of a coil spring. The divided middle segment  110  is rigidly attached to the adjacent upper segment  108  and lower segment  112  by inserting a tapered end of one segment into the end of the adjacent segment until a spring biased detent snaps into corresponding holes  122  in the tubular walls of the outer segment. When in the fixed position, the ends  124  of the spring biased detent extend out through the holes  122 . To separate the two segments, the user simply presses inward on the ends  124  of the spring biased detent and pulls the two segments apart. 
     Rigid tubular sleeve  120  has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the handle segments  108 ,  110 , and  112 , such that it can slide axially along the handle  104 . In an exemplary embodiment, its inside diameter is small enough that the sleeve cannot pass over the ends  124  of the spring biased detent unless they are partially depressed. Thus, the ends  124  of the spring biased detent located at the connection between the divided middle segment  110  and the lower segment  112  prevent the rigid tubular sleeve  120  from sliding downward and can be positioned to hold the rigid tubular sleeve  120  in position such that it completely covers the flexible connector  118  and extends far enough over the two segment ends  114  and  116  to keep the divided segment rigid. 
     If the user wants to switch to a flexible handle, they simply slide the rigid tubular sleeve  120  axially upward until the flexible connector  118  is completely exposed. This allows the handle to bend at the location of the flexible connector  118  in accordance with the flex characteristics of the flexible connector  118 . In an exemplary embodiment, the upper end  126  of the rigid tubular sleeve  120  can be flared slightly outward such that as the rigid tubular sleeve  120  is drawn upward the flared portion of the upper end  126  will depress the ends  124  of the spring biased detent at the connection between the divided middle segment  110  and the upper segment  108  and allow the sleeve to be drawn up onto the upper segment  108  until the flexible segment is fully exposed. 
     If the rigid tubular sleeve  120  is not pulled up past the ends  124  of the spring biased detent, the outward pressure of the ends  124  on the inner wall of the rigid tubular sleeve  120  may hold it in position. When the user wants to return the handle to a rigid configuration, they simply slide the sleeve back down so it again rests on the ends  124  of the spring biased detent at the connection with the lower segment  112 . In an exemplary embodiment, the rigid tubular sleeve  120  is provided with an annular flange or other stop on its inside wall near the lower end to prevent it from being easily pulled up so that passes fully over the ends  124  of the spring biased detent. 
     If the rigid tubular sleeve  120  does passes fully over the ends  124  of the spring biased detent, the ends  124  will extend back to their fully extended position and prevent the rigid tubular sleeve  120  from sliding downward back over the flexible connector  118 . When the user wants to return the handle to a rigid configuration, they simply partially depress the ends  124  of the spring biased detent to allow the rigid tubular sleeve  120  to slide back down over the flexible connector  118  where it is held in place by the detent holding the middle segment  110  and the lower segment  112  together. 
     It will be readily understood that a wide variety of mechanisms can be used to hold the rigid tubular sleeve  120  in various positions, including clips, friction mechanisms such as an internal friction ring, detents, latches, etc. Moreover, while the discussion herein relates to embodiments in which the rigid tubular sleeve  120  is moved manually by direct manipulation, it will be readily understood that it could be moved by a wide variety of mechanical devices such that the user might pull a trigger or squeeze or rotate a mechanism to move the rigid tubular sleeve axially along the handle  104 . 
     While extensive reference is made herein to the use of a rigid tubular sleeve  120 , it will be readily understood that a wide variety of specific mechanisms can be used to provide rigidity to the handle segment comprising the flexible connector  118 . For example, referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , in an exemplary embodiment a movable rigid rod  140  may be is positioned within the handle segments such that it can be moved by the user to provide rigidity to the flexible segment. Such a mechanism requires an external ring  142  or other mechanism that can be manipulated by the user to move the rigid rod  140  into various positions. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, one or more joints or other structures can be included in the flexible connector  118  to provide strength, stability, or influence the flex characteristics. For example, one or more joints can be included that provide greater lateral stability to the flexible connector  118  to prevent side-to-side movement. 
     It will be readily understood that while the descriptions herein relate primarily to a handle  104  that is divided into an upper segment  108 , a middle segment  110 , and a lower segment  112  that attaches to the mop head  102 , the invention can be used with handles that have only two segments, one above the flexible connector and one below it, or with a plurality of segments and even with multiple flexible connectors to provide additional degrees of freedom of movement. In addition, the characteristics of the flexible connector(s) can be widely varied to provide for different degrees of flexibility through various ranges of angles and directions.