Abstract:
A cleaning apparatus includes a one piece, blow-molded body supporting a debris or dirt removing material, such as a tubular, adhesive lint remover roller and/or a stationary directional lint brush fabric. The body includes a unitary handle and roller support. In one aspect, the handle is formed of a transparent material such that one or more labels, each carrying decorative indicia may be viewed through the handle for a decorative effect. An insert defining decorative indicia may be inserted into the handle to provide a decorative effect by itself or in combination with decorative indicia on one or both of the exteriorly mounted labels.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 10/329,717, filed Dec. 16, 2002, which claims the benefit of the priority filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/426,589, filed Nov. 15, 2002, and which is also a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/302,038, filed Nov. 22, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/143,396, filed May 10, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,626, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to cleaning apparatus for removing debris or dirt from surfaces and more particularly to lint roller assemblies.  
           [0003]    There are many previously known lint roller assemblies. These previously known lint roller assemblies typically comprise a handle secured to a cylindrical lint roller support. A tubular cylindrical adhesive lint roller is then removably mounted to the support such that the adhesive roller is rotatively relative to the handle. In use, the adhesive lint roller is rolled along a surface to remove unsightly particles, lint, pet hair, etc.  
           [0004]    The previously known lint roller assemblies have used a number of different options to rotatively secure the lint roller support to the handle. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,923, the lint roller support and handle are separately constructed and then rotatively secured together. One disadvantage of this type of previously known lint roller assembly, however, is that the rotatively connection between the handle and lint roller support is subject to mechanical failure. Another drawback is that a directional lint fabric cannot be attached to the rotatable support section and still be operable. It rotates with the support and is not stationary to provide for brushing motion.  
           [0005]    A further disadvantage to this type of assembly is that both the lint roller support and the handle are separately molded from plastic and then assembled together requiring two separate molds, one for each part.  
           [0006]    Still other types of lint roller assemblies, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,695, the lint roller handle includes a pair of elongated housing parts, which are substantially identical to each other. A disadvantage to this type of assembly is that each housing part must be snapped exactly into the other perfectly registering using pins and sockets. A further disadvantage is that the handle section being integral to the support section is manufactured with rigid plastic material and uncomfortable to grip and does not provide for a customized plastic decorative top or hanger.  
           [0007]    Still other types of previously known lint roller assemblies, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,5577,0111, utilize a unitary lint roller handle and lint roller support. These previously known lint roller assemblies, however, require a complex and, therefore, expensive mold design in order to mold the lint roller handle and support. Furthermore, a relatively large frictional engagement between the lint roller and the lint roller support often times interferes with the desired free rotation of the lint roller about the lint roller support.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0008]    The present invention is a cleaning apparatus which addresses the abovementioned disadvantages of the previously known art.  
           [0009]    In one aspect, the cleaning apparatus of the present invention is a unitarily formed lint roller assembly including an adhesive tape roll engaging a hollow support body or cylinder having a one piece, molded handle extending from one end as a unitary, one piece blow-molded body.  
           [0010]    A plurality of radially extending, adhesive tape roll sleeve engaging fingers or elements are provided along the outer end of the hollow support cylinder in and registry with an annular stop flange selectively retain the adhesive tape roll sleeve assembly therebetween while permitting rotative movement of the assembly on the support cylinder.  
           [0011]    The outer surface of the hollow support cylinder is selectively provided with at least two spaced apart annular bearing ridges which are adapted to slidingly engage the inner surface of the adhesive tape roll mounted on the hollow support cylinder so as to facilitate relative selective rotative movement of the sleeve assembly with respect thereto.  
           [0012]    The integral handle extending axially outwardly from one end thereof is optionally connected to a cap in a frictional snap fit, threaded attachment, etc.  
           [0013]    In still another aspect of the present invention, the hollow support section is oval in shape to accept to strips of directional lint brush fabric; one on the front and the other on the backside.  
           [0014]    In another aspect of the invention, at least the handle of the one piece blow-molded assembly is formed of a transparent material. One or more labels and/or an optional insert into the interior of the handle are provided with decorative indicia, such as designs, print, etc., which are visible exteriorly of the handle to provide an aesthetic effect to the present cleaning apparatus. One of the labels may be transparent so as to enable the decorative indicia thereon to be visible from the other side of the handle. One of the labels may also have an opaque backing with decorative indicia on the backing disposed against the exterior surface of the handle so as to be visible through from the opposite side of the handle through the handle. The decorative insert is disposed within the interior of the handle and is visible from one or other side of the handle. The decorative insert includes means for fixing the insert in an axial position within the handle.  
           [0015]    One or more of the labels and the decorative insert may be combined to provide a combination decorative design visible through the handle. The decorative insert may also be in the form of a two or three dimensional figurine which is attached by a stem to the cap so as to appear to be suspended within the handle or can be a loose figure inserted into the interior of the handle prior to attachment of the cap.  
           [0016]    The apparatus of the present invention provides a less expensive manufacturing cost than prior lint roller apparatus along with additional functionality and aesthetic appearance.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0017]    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:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one aspect of a cleaning apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a cap for an alternate handle;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled cap and handle of FIG. 3;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 5-9 are front elevational views of the handle of the cleaning apparatus shown with decorative labels and internal inserts;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 is a longitudinal, partial cross-sectional view of the handle of the present apparatus showing another aspect of a decorative insert according to the present invention; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 is a longitudinal, partial cross-sectional view of the handle of the present apparatus showing yet another aspect of a decorative insert according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is depicted a cleaning apparatus  10  constructed in accordance with the teachings of one aspect of the present invention.  
         [0026]    The apparatus  10  includes a unitary, one piece molded plastic body  12  which includes a handle  22  and cleaning element, support  18 .  
         [0027]    In this aspect of the invention, the apparatus  10  includes a one-piece body which can be formed of a blow molded plastic.  
         [0028]    The handle  22  integrally transitions into a cleaning element support section  78  which has an inner elongated generally cylindrical portion  80  for supporting an optional directional fabric cloth layer  36 . Enlarged diameter bearing surfaces  82  and  84  are disposed on opposite ends of the inner portion  80  and have a larger diameter for rotatably supporting a tape roll  30  thereover, with an inner diameter of the tape roll  30  spaced from the directional fabric  36 . The bearing surface  82  is disposed adjacent to an enlarged shoulder  86  which acts as a stop edge for one end of the tape roll  30 .  
         [0029]    The opposite end of the support section  78 , axially adjacent to the bearing surface  84  is formed with a plurality of radially outward extending fingers or projections  90 . The fingers  90  expand the tape roll  30  upon insertion of a tape roll  30  thereover to enable the tape roll  30  to be slid over the support section  78  into engagement with the bearing surfaces  82  and  84 . The fingers  90  trap the tape roll  30  on the support section  78 .  
         [0030]    In use, the tape roll  30 , which may be any commercially available tape roll having outwardly facing adhesive sheets or strips, generally arranged in a plurality of sheets wound in a roll wherein the outermost sheets are peelable from the roll, one at a time, along perforated edges of each sheet, is forced over the enlarged diameter of the ends of the fingers  90  causing the fingers  90  to optionally bend radially inward to allow passage of the inner surface of the roll  30  or the inner surface of a core in the roll  30 , if a core is employed, over the ends of the fingers  90 .  
         [0031]    Alternately, the fingers  90  maybe a single, continuous bead or plurality of circumferentially spaced beads which are non-compressible but which momentarily deform the roll  30  to permit passage of the roll  30  over the bead or beads.  
         [0032]    As shown in FIG. 2, when the roll  30  is completely mounted on the support  18 , it may freely rotate under applied force to remove lint, pet hair, and other debris from surfaces, such as clothes, furniture, or other fabrics. Easier rotation of the roll  30  maybe achieved by use of longitudinally extending spaced ribs on the bearing surfaces  82  and  84  which minimize frictional contact with the inner surface of the roll  30 .  
         [0033]    At the same time, the outermost dimension of the diametrically opposed ends of the fingers  90  is greater than the inner diameter of the roll  30  thereby enabling the fingers  90  to retain the roll  30  on the tape support section  18 .  
         [0034]    At any time, the roll  30  may be removed by forcing it over the ends of the fingers  90  thereby exposing the directional fabric  36  for use. The tape roll  30  may then be reapplied as necessary to the tape support  18  as described above.  
         [0035]    The fabric  36  is, by example, a dimensional woven nylon pile velvet created by cutting intertwined yard threads. The pile surface is heat set in a specific direction to provide directional uniformity. This enable the fabric  36  to be drawn in one direction across a surface to be cleaned to pickup lint, pet hair, and other debris from the surface. Dragging the fabric  36  in an opposite direction across another surface removes any collected lint and debris from the fabric  36 .  
         [0036]    The section of directional fabric may be wound and frictionally or adhesively joined to the tape support  18 . Alternately, the directional fabric  36  may comprise multiple sections each adhesively adhered to the exterior of the tape support  18 .  
         [0037]    The hollow support section  18  may have an oblate or oval shape to accept strips of directional fabric, one on one side and one on an opposed side. Even though the tape support  18  may have an oblate shape, the first and second bearing surfaces  32  and  34  should be substantially circular to allow easy rotation of a tape roll  30  thereover with minimal frictional engagement.  
         [0038]    The handle  22  has opposed indentations  90  and  92  with a generally oval shape, by example only. The indentations  90  and  92  provide a convenient location for a label  94  as well as for positioning of the user&#39;s thumb during use of the cleaning apparatus  10 .  
         [0039]    As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cleaning apparatus  10  may include an optional cap  100  which can be a solid body or optionally can include an aperture  102  for decoration as well as to permit the cleaning apparatus  10  to be hung on a display rack for sale as well as to be hung hook between uses by the user.  
         [0040]    The cap  100  may be fixedly or releasably attached to the handle  22 . Preferably, the cap  100 , by example only, is releasably attached to the handle  22  by interconnecting means, such as mating threads  106  on the handle  22  and threads  108  in an end bore  110  extending from one end of the cap  100 .  
         [0041]    Alternately, the cap  100  may be attached to the end of the handle  22  by means of snap connections, such as one or more legs extending from one end of the cap  100  which engage complimentary-shaped recesses or notches in the end of the handle  22 .  
         [0042]    Referring now to FIGS. 5-9, there is depicted another aspect of the present invention in which the handle is used with external decals or labels attached to the exterior surface of the handle  22  and decorative interiorly disposed inserts which can be used separately or in combination to provide a decorative effect. It will be understood that the handle  22 , although constructed in the manner described above and shown in FIGS. 1-4, with or without the optional cap  100  as a one piece blow-molded extension of the support, may be constructed in other configurations, such as a two-part handle and support which are fixedly secured together by adhesive, snaps, etc. It will also be understood that the handle can be a one piece handle without the separately attachable cap  100 . Likewise, the support may have other configurations, such as a cage or spindle rotatably affixed to the handle.  
         [0043]    As shown in FIG. 5, a first decorative label or decal  120  is applied by adhesive to an exterior surface of the handle  22 . The label  120  is preferably formed of a transparent material, such as a transparent film, and has decorative indicia  122  applied thereto. Since the label  120  is transparent as is the handle  22  which is formed of clear PVC, PETE, polypropylene, etc. The decorative indicia  120  on the label  120  may be easily viewed through the handle  22 .  
         [0044]    Referring now to FIG. 6, a decorative decal or label  130  is mounted on one exterior surface of the handle  22 . The label  130 , in this aspect of the invention, has an opaque background  132  and is applied, such as by adhesive, to the handle  22  such that a rear surface  134  is in contact with the handle  22 . The rear surface  134  has decorative indicia  136  applied thereto. Since the handle  22  is transparent, the decorative indicia  136  may be viewed through the handle  22 .  
         [0045]    A decorative insert  140  is depicted in FIG. 7. The insert  140  is formed of a flexible material, such as an opaque or transparent plastic sheet. The insert  140  also has decorative indicia  142  applied thereto. The decorative insert  140  is preferably flexible to enable it to be bent into a smaller diameter for insertion through the open end of the handle  22   18  which can then be closed by the cap  100 .  
         [0046]    The insert  140  also has fixing means  144 , such as opposed projections extending laterally outward from the opposed sides  146  and  148  of the insert  140 . The fixing means or projections  144  engage the interior surface of the handle  22  to fixedly position the insert  140  in a desired longitudinal position within the handle  22 . Alternately, the fixing means may be provided by selecting the width of the insert  140  such that the opposed sides  146  and  148  of the insert  140  engage an interior surface of the handle  22  to longitudinally position the insert  140  in the desired longitudinal position in the handle  22 . The fixing means provides a fixed engagement of the insert  140  to prevent movement of the insert  140  in the handle  22  after the insert  140  is fixed in position.  
         [0047]    As shown in FIG. 8, the first transparent label  120  may be combined with the transparent insert  140  to provide a combination decorative effect which includes the overlaid indicia  142  on the insert  140  and the indicia  122  on the label  120 . This decorative effect can be viewed from either side of the handle  22 .  
         [0048]    It is also possible to combine the label  120  with the label  130  to provide an overlaid decorative effect formed of the indicia  136  on the label  130  and the indicia  122  on the label  120 . Similarly, the labels  120  and  130  may be combined with the insert  140  to provide a combination of the decorative indicia  122 ,  136  and  142  viewable from one side of the handle.  
         [0049]    Similarly, the insert  140  may be combined with the label  130  to provide an overlaid combined decorative effect of the indicia  142  on the transparent insert  140  and the decorative indicia  136  on the rear surface  134  of the label  130 . This combined decorative effect is viewable from only one side of the handle.  
         [0050]    Referring now to FIG. 10, there is depicted another aspect of a decorative insert  160  according to the present invention. In this aspect, the decorative insert  160  is in the form of a two or preferably, a three dimensional figurine depicting an animal, human, bird, geometric design, etc. The insert  160  is carried with the cap  100 , such as by an elongated, small diameter, thin stem  162  attached to or integrally molded as part of the cap  100 .  
         [0051]    In this aspect, the decorative insert  160  may be integrally molded with the stem  162  and the cap  100  or attached to the stem  162  by adhesive, mechanical fasteners, etc. In use, the decorative insert  160  appears to hang or float within the interior of the handle  22 .  
         [0052]    In FIG. 11, a decorative insert  170 , similar to the decorative insert  160  and in the form of a two or three dimensional body, is provided as a loose or separate member which is inserted into the handle  22  prior to attachment of the cap  100  to the handle  22 . The insert  170  may be dimensioned to move freely throughout the handle  22  or, may be designed with suitable dimensions to engage the narrow diameter portion of the handle  22  and remain in a fixed location throughout use of the cleaning apparatus.  
         [0053]    In summary, there has been a cleaning apparatus which is useful in efficiently removing dirt, debris, embedded hair, from fabrics and other surfaces. The apparatus is formed as a single one piece apparatus for a low manufacturing cost. The apparatus may also include a decorative insert which can be viewed through the handle when the handle is formed of a transparent material.