Patent Abstract:
An improved cleaning tool is provided with a flexible connection between the head or spindle and the handle. The improved tool broadly includes a spindle or head, a handle and a flexible connection between the head and handle to permit relative pivotal movement therebetween and rubber bumpers to protect against scratching furniture. The flexible connection regulates relative movement between the spindle head in such a way that lateral movement is greater than the up and down movement.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to devices for cleaning floors with revolving adhesive lint rollers and non-woven peelable sweepers and mops  
         [0002]     Adhesive lint rollers for clothing and floors as well as Swiffer™ style swivel sweepers have enjoyed substantial commercial success for use in certain applications. For example, an average home owner can use a Swiffer™ style sweeper and peel, place and replace one cleaning sheet at a time upon the sweeper head. The problem is that these types of sweeper heads have single sided cleaning surfaces; although coupled with swivel movement of the head. It would be desirable to provide a similar swivel action; but with a dual cleaning surface rotatable about an axle.  
         [0003]     Many adhesive lint rollers for use on floors are commercially available and are modeled after typical paint rollers that are limited to bent metal combined with a plastic handle. This sort of paint roller style handle for the adhesive floor rollers is lacking in that it does not provide a swivel or pivoting action to provide ergonomical movement of the head over floor and upholstery surfaces and around furniture legs, corners and steps.  
         [0004]     Accordingly it would be desirable to provide an improved cleaning tool having a flexible connection between the head and the handle. The improved connection should limit the extent of relative movement between the head and handle so that the spindle-head has limited movement in the vertical cleaning direction. The cleaning tool head should move more freely in the lateral direction than it does in the back and forth cleaning direction.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     The present invention broadly provides an improved cleaning tool with a variable flexible connection between the head and handle.  
         [0006]     The improved tool broadly includes a spindle roller or an oblate head for receiving a tape roll or an oblate mop head, a handle and a head with an axle upon which the spindle head rotates, and a flexible connection between or in the parts to permit relative movement there between.  
         [0007]     The handle may be tubular and may be provided with an internally threaded portion which is adapted to receive the threaded marginal end portion of a hand tool and, preferably, an additional extension pole. The handle may have at least one cushioned grip portion that makes the handle feel more comfortable to the user. The cushioned grip may be formed of a suitable thermoplastic elastomer, such as a polyolefin. The body may be formed of a suitable plastic with soft rubber inserts or coatings placed as bumpers in areas that may come in contact with furniture. This is to avoid scratching the delicate furniture surface.  
         [0008]     In one aspect, the body, flexible connection and at least a portion of the handle are formed of a flexible, unbreakable soft material, such as polypropylene. The connection has a web portion that is more flexible to movement in one plane than it is to movement in another generally perpendicular plane. This web portion has major and minor transverse dimensions. In the one aspect, the web portion may have a substantially rectangular transverse cross-section. Optionally the web area may be filled and/or surrounded with an elastomeric material between the web areas to limit movement.  
         [0009]     Optionally, the flexible connection may be made of at least one transverse U-shaped fold formed with the remainder of the body or optionally as a separate connector between the body and the handle. The U-shaped folds are preferable positioned in a plane at from 30° to 150°, preferably substantially at right angles, to the plane in which the handle lies, whereby the resiliently flexible connector permits the body and/or the head to be moved at an angle to the handle or grip portion out of the plane in which it normally lies, and then to revert to its original position on the release of pressure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0010]     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:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one aspect of the present cleaning apparatus;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, front elevational view of another aspect of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of a cleaning apparatus with another aspect of a flexible connection;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a partial, enlarged frontal elevational view showing the connection between the shaft and the arm of the cleaning apparatus shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a partial, enlarged view, similar to  FIG. 4 , but depicting another aspect of the flexible connection of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of another aspect of the cleaning apparatus according to the present invention, using the connection of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the cleaning apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a partial, enlarged, front elevational views showing different aspects of connections for the cleaning apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIGS. 9, 10 ,  11  and  12  are enlarged, partial front elevational views showing an alternate mounting location for the connections of the present inventions;  
         [0020]      FIG. 13  is a frontal elevational view of a cleaning apparatus according to the present invention including another aspect of a flexible connection;  
         [0021]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of one aspect of a handle employable in the cleaning apparatus of the present invention; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of another aspect of the flexible connector. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]     Refer now to the drawing, and to  FIG. 1  in particular, there is depicted a cleaning apparatus  20  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0024]     The cleaning apparatus  20  includes a body or head  22 , a handle  24  and a spindle  26 . The head  22  is formed of a suitable lightweight material, preferably a plastic material, with poly-propylene and poly-ethylene being suitable materials by way of example only.  
         [0025]     The head  22  includes an upper arm  30  and a side arm  32 . The upper and lower arms  30  and  32  may be formed as a one piece molded structure by suitable molding processes, such as by blow molding or injection molding, for example, or as separate members. The upper arm  30  and the side arm  32 , while integrally joined, may be formed in a plurality of sections, with separate halves being shown in  FIG. 2 , for example, and joined together by adhesive, fasteners, and/or snap-together connections.  
         [0026]     The side arm  32  depends from one end of the upper arm  30 . One or more optional inserts  48  and  50  are mounted on the head  22 , with at least one insert  48  mounted on one or both sides of the upper arm  30  and one insert  50  mounted on the outer surface of the side arm  32 . The inserts  48  and  50  are formed of a resilient material, such as an elastomer or rubber, and may include a plurality of resilient ribs  52 . The inserts  48  and  50  are positioned to act as bumpers to prevent contact between the head  22  and external surfaces during use of or coated with the cleaning apparatus  20 . Alternately, the entire head  22  can be formed of a resilient material.  
         [0027]     A reinforcing member  34 , such as a metal rod, may be disposed within the head  22  and has a curvilinear shape, as shown in  FIG. 1 . One end of the reinforcing member or rod  32  is fixed in the upper arm  34 . The other end portion of the reinforcing member  36  or rod  34  projects laterally inward from the side arm  32  in a spaced, generally parallel position to the upper arm  34 . The purpose of the end portion  32  of the rod  34  will be described in greater detail hereafter.  
         [0028]     A shaft  40  is coupled to the upper arm  30  by means of a flexible or resilient connector means  42 . The shaft  40  has a generally circular cross-section with an internally threaded bore  44  which is adapted to mate with threads  46  extending from one end of the handle  24  to releasably connect the handle  24  to the head  22  and to enable different length handles to be interchangeably connected to the head  22  as also described hereafter.  
         [0029]     The handle  24  has an elongated shape and a length which may vary depending on the particular application of the apparatus  20 . A long length handle  24  as shown in  FIG. 1  by way of example only, to enable the cleaning apparatus  20  to function as a floor mop or as a mop for hard to reach surfaces. Alternately, a shorter length handle may be mounted in the shaft  40  for hand use of the cleaning apparatus  20  to clean clothes, furniture, etc.  
         [0030]     Resilient inserts  54 , similar to the inserts  48  and  50 , may be mounted at various locations on the handle  24  to form an ergonomic, high-friction grip surface.  
         [0031]     The spindle  26  is shown in  FIG. 1  as being rotatable. Also, the head  22  and rod  34  maybe molded or formed in one piece.  
         [0032]     The spindle  26 , in the aspect of the cleaning apparatus  20  shown in  FIG. 1 , includes a cartridge  60  formed of first and second end caps  62  and  64  which are joined by a plurality of longitudinally extending strips  66 . The end caps  62  and  64  have a generally circular shape so as to form the cartridge  60  in the shape of a cylinder. At least one of the end caps, such as end cap  64 , has a through aperture through which the end portion of the rod  36  extends. An interior bearing member  68 , having a shape similar to that of the end caps  62  and  64  is fixedly mounted intermediately between the end caps  62  and  64  within the strips  66 . The bearing  68  includes a receiver for rotatably receiving the end portion  36  of the reinforcement member or rod  34 . Alternately, the end portion  36  of the rod  34  may be provided with extra length so as to extend completely through the cartridge  60  to the end cap  62  wherein it is rotatably supported in a boss, not shown, in the end cap  62 .  
         [0033]     In this manner, the cartridge  60  is rotatably coupled to the head  22  by the reinforcement member or rod  34  and is capable of bi-directional rotation as pressure is applied to the cartridge  60  through the head  22  and the handle  24  by a user.  
         [0034]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the two-part construction of the head  22  is depicted by way of example only. In this aspect of the invention, the upper arm  30  and the integral side arm  32  are formed in two sections  30 A and  32 A, and  30 B, and  32 B, respectively. One insert  48  can be mounted on both of the upper arm portions  30 A and  30 B.  
         [0035]     A recessed shoulder  35  is formed in one of the head halves, such as along the edge of the upper arm  30 B and the side arm  32 B for engagement with a mating edge on the opposed upper arm  30 A and side arm  32 A.  
         [0036]     At least one, and preferably a plurality of bosses  37 , are formed in one of the head halves and receive smaller diameter pins, not shown, on the mating half to align and secure the head halves together.  
         [0037]     As also shown in  FIG. 2 , the head half formed of the upper arm  30 B and side arm  32 B includes an enlargement  39  projecting from the shoulder also has a recessed shoulder like the recess  35  for mating engagement with a recess  41  in the opposed upper arm  30 A. The enlargement  39  carries a connector  42  and a shaft  40  so that the connector  42  is physically located on only one of the head halves for strength and proper function.  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a cleaning element  80  is mounted on the cartridge  60 . In the case of the rotatable, cylindrically shaped cartridge  60 , the cleaning element  80  can be in the form of a roll of separable sheets of a film or substrate having an outwardly facing adhesive surface suitable for picking up lint, dirt, etc., from hard surfaces, soft fabrics, clothes, animals, etc. The length and width of the separable sheets as well as the length of the cartridge  60  may be varied to suit the needs of different applications. When the outermost sheet of the cleaning element  80  is soiled or dirty, it is peeled from the roll supported on the cartridge  60  to expose a fresh, clean sheet for further cleaning operations.  
         [0039]     According to the present invention, the unique connector  42  in the cleaning apparatus  20  provides a pivotal or swivel function for ergonomic feel and effective use of the cleaning apparatus  20  over a number of different surfaces, or different shaped surfaces. All aspects of the connector  42 , including those described and illustrated hereafter, are formed to exhibit more flex in one plane than in an opposite, angularly opposed plane, such as a perpendicular plane.  
         [0040]     For purposes of clearly understanding the operation of the connector  42  and the other connectors described hereafter, reference planes will be provided for clarity. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the upper arm  30  has a longitudinally extending axis extending between the side arm  32  and an opposed end generally parallel to a lower end. A plane through this axis and the handle  24  defines a first plane. The handle  24  is also located in a second plane, mutually perpendicular to the first plane. The connector  42 , is designed to allow significant movement, i.e., 30° to 150° of the handle  24  in either direction of arrow  82  in the first plane; while enabling only manual movement, i.e., 20° in the second plane. This movement provides an ergonomic use of the cleaning apparatus  20  as well as a more efficient cleaning since pressure variations which may result from the angular application of pressure from the user to the handle  24  are compensated for by the pivotal movement of the handle  24 , relative to the head  26  through a connector  42 .  
         [0041]     In the aspect of the connector  42  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connector  42  includes of a plurality of segments  86  each having a generally planar shape. Although the segments  86  are depicted in  FIG. 2  as having a circular periphery, it will be understood that other polygonal, oval, elliptical, etc., shapes may be employed for each segment  86 .  
         [0042]     The segments  86  are spaced apart by a stem  88  which may be formed as a continuous member between the shaft  40  and the upper arm  30  or as a plurality of interconnected stem sections, each generally aligned along a longitudinal axis of the handle  24  and the shaft  40 .  
         [0043]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the stem  88  extends in one direction across the complete diameter of the shaft  40  from opposed diametrical edges of the segments  86 . This prevents substantial flexing or movement of the segments  86  along a plane perpendicular to the first plane defined through the handle  24  and the head  26 .  
         [0044]     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , cleaning apparatus  100  is substantially the same as the cleaning apparatus  20  except for a different spindle  102  and a different connector  104 . In this aspect, the spindle  102  is formed of a one piece molded body having interconnected solid portions  104  and open portions  106 . End caps  108  and  110  are formed at opposite ends of the spindle  102  and receive a metal reinforcing rod, not shown, therethrough, as described above and shown in  FIG. 1 . The cleaning apparatus  100  includes a head  22  and a shaft  40  which are substantially the same as the corresponding elements described above and shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0045]     The connector  42 , in this aspect of the invention, is formed of a plurality of transversely extending, generally U-shaped folds  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120  between a first end  108  integrally connected, such as by molding, adhesive, fasteners, etc., to the upper arm  30  and an opposed second end  110  also integrally molded, adhesively joined and fastened to one end of the shaft  40 . The folds  112 , etc., are alternatingly inverted between the first and second ends  108  and  110 . The degree of resiliency of the connector  104  may be varied by changing the thickness or width of the folds  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120  as well as the number of folds. For example, a less resilient connector  104  may be provided by increasing the thickness, increasing the width and/or as decreasing the number of the folds  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120 . A more resilient connector  104  may be obtained by increasing the number of folds, decreasing the thickness and/or decreasing the width of the fold  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120 .  
         [0046]     By way of example only, the number of folds is between at least two folds and ten folds, with five folds  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120  being shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  as an example only.  
         [0047]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the length of each segment between the folded ends varies so that the length of the folds increases from the fold  112  to the fold  120 . It will be understood that all of the folds  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120  may have the same length provided in a reverse increasing length from the end on the shaft  40  to the opposite end on the upper arm  30 .  
         [0048]     Another aspect of the connector  104  in  FIG. 5 . The connector  104  includes the same folds  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120 . In this aspect, however, the open spaces between the generally U-shaped folds spaces are filled with a resilient, elastomeric or rubber material  122 . This material  122  decreases the resiliency but provides a more controlled pivotal movement of the handle  24  relative to the head  22 .  
         [0049]      FIGS. 6 and 7  depict the cleaning apparatus  100  shown in  FIG. 3 , with a connector  104 ′ and an oblate or oval shaped spindle  130 . The spindle  130  may receive a roll of outwardly facing adhesive strips which are conformed to the oblate shape of the spindle  130  or a separate stack of sheets along one or opposite sides of the spindle  130 , or as a continuous roll of perforated non-woven sheets.  
         [0050]     The spindle  130  is similar to the spindle shown in Applicant&#39;s prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,517 as shown in  FIG. 7 . The end portion  36  of the reinforcing rod  34  extends through one end cap  132  to an opposed end cap  134 . Individual support rods, not shown, also extend between fixed connections on the end caps  132  and  134  to support a cleaning element  136  in the desired oblate shape on the spindle  130 .  
         [0051]     Yet another connector  150  is shown in  FIG. 8 . In this aspect, the connector  150  is connected at opposite ends to the shaft  40  and the upper arm  30  of the head  22 . The individual segments  152  and  154  are similar to the planar segments  86  shown in  FIG. 1  but are provided in different diameters, with the segments  152  having a first diameter and the segments  154  having a second larger diameter, by example only. It will also be understood that all of the segments, with five segments being shown in the connector  150  by way of example only, may have different diameters. Such as increasing diameters from segment to segment from one end of the connector  150  at the shaft  40  to an opposite end at the upper arm  30 .  
         [0052]     Referring now to  FIGS. 9-12 , there is depicted use of the various connectors described above in a different mounting position on the cleaning apparatus of the present invention. In these aspects of the invention, the various connectors are mounted in the side arm  32  intermediately between an upper side arm portion  170  and a lower side arm portion  172 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the connector  104  is mounted between the side arm portions  170  and  172 . In Fig. the connector  104 ′ is likewise mounted between the side arm portions  170  and  172 . In  FIG. 11 , the connector  42  is likewise mounted between the side arm portions  170  and  172 . In  FIG. 12 , the connector  150  is integrally formed between the upper and lower side arm portions  170  and  172 .  
         [0053]     It will be understood that the use of the connectors  104  and  104 ′ in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the side arm  32  will typically require the side arm  32  to be formed as a one piece member. The same one piece side arm construction may also apply for the use of the connectors  42  and  150  in the side arm  32  as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 .  
         [0054]     Although this aspect of the invention utilizes the cleaning apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 , it will be understood that the connector  180  described hereafter may be employed in place of any of the other connectors described above as part of this invention.  
         [0055]     As shown in  FIG. 13 , the connector  180  includes a thin web  182  which extends substantially across the diameter of the shaft  40  and the end of the upper arm  30 . The web  182 , which may be integrally formed, such as by molding, with the shaft  40  in the upper arm  30 , has a significantly smaller width or cross-sectional dimension than its corresponding length dimension.  
         [0056]     The resulting open space between the end of the shaft  40  and the mating portion of the upper arm  30  is filled with a mass  184  of a resilient material, such as an elastomeric or rubber material which is cured to a solid, but resilient form. In use, the connector  180  allows lateral movement between the shaft  40  and the head  30  in the direction of arrows  186  and  188  of approximately 30° to 150°, etc. At the same time, due to the length of the web  182 , perpendicular movement of the shaft  40  relative to the upper arm is limited to at most 20°.  
         [0057]     Refer now to  FIG. 14 , there is depicted an alternate elongated handle  190  which may be used with any of the cleaning apparatus described above and shown in  FIGS. 1-13 . The handle  140  includes an elongated shaft portion  192  which terminates in a hand grip  194 . The hand grip  194  may be formed with or covered with a resilient pad forming a suitable hand gripping surface. The opposite end  196  on the shaft  192  is formed with a suitable mating connector to the connector in the shaft  40 , the thread shown on the end  196  in  FIG. 14  will be understood to be by way of example only.  
         [0058]     The handle  190  can be connected directly to the shaft  40  or to the handle  24  shown in  FIG. 1  where a mating connector, such as internal threads, are formed in the end of the handle  24 . This allows the extension handle  190  to be easily employed when necessary, but separated from the handle  24  when not required.  
         [0059]     According to a unique feature, the handle  190  includes an intermediate rotatable connection  200  between the hand grip  194  and the end  196 . The rotatable connection  200  provides a small amount of angular displacement between the opposed shaft portions denoted by Ref Nos.  192 A and  192 B of the shaft  192 . This will accommodate different hand positions relative to the head  22  or the application of a slight amount of torque to the head  22 .  
         [0060]     Referring now to  FIG. 15 , there is depicted another aspect of a handle  210  which may be employed with any of the cleaning apparatus described above and shown in  FIGS. 1-13 . The handle  210  includes a first or a main shaft portion  212 , a second shaft portion  214  having the head connector, such as threads  46 , extending from one end and a gripped end  216 . The grip end  216  may also provide for a releasible connection to a handle extension, not shown.  
         [0061]     Any of the flexible connectors described above, such as connector  42  shown in  FIG. 15  by way of example only, may be formed between the shaft sections  212  and  214 . When mounted in the handle  210 , the flexible connector  42  functions in the same manner as the use of all of the flexible connector regardless of whether the connectors are mounted in the head or shaft, by allowing more substantial movement of the handle  210  relative to the head  22  in the first plane than a substantially lesser amount of movement in a second, mutually exclusive, generally angular or perpendicular plane.  
         [0062]     In conclusion, there has been disclosed a unique flexible connection for a cleaning apparatus which provides economic and efficient pressure application during use of the cleaning apparatus. The flexible connector is easily integrated into a cleaning apparatus carrying an outwardly facing adhesive roll or sheet stack and may be provided with different degrees of flexibility or resiliency by varying the shape of the connector.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8