Abstract:
A device for use when there is a spill including a spill cleaning device which can collect liquid and solid debris from a surface. The spill cleaning device includes at least one squeegee. The spill cleaning device further includes a sachet member containing a cleaner and/or a sanitizer to clean the surface after the debris is collected. The spill cleaning device is designed for simple operation and to eliminate the need for multiple items to clean a spill.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a spill cleaning device which may be used to collect liquid and solid debris. More particularly, it relates to a cleaning pad with an attached squeegee so that solid debris can be collected and any liquid debris can be absorbed effectively eliminating the need for multiple items to clean-up a spill. The spill cleaning device may also include a sachet member containing various liquids to clean or sanitize the spill area after the debris is removed.  
         [0002]     Cleaning pads are well-known. These are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,221,351.  
         [0003]     Cleaning sheets with rupturable liquid cleaner containing capsules are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,929,214 and 2,980,941.  
         [0004]     Automobile windshield cleaning devices with a squeegee are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,807,322 and 6,092,255.  
         [0005]     The prior art does not provide a spill cleaning device with only a squeegee device. Neither does it provide a spill cleaning device with a squeegee which is adapted to clean and/or sanitize a spill area by including a rupturable sachet member containing liquid.  
         [0006]     There is a need for a spill cleaning device to be able to collect any solid debris that may be intermingled with any liquid debris. Spills of this type frequently occur in stores and particularly those which provide products which contain liquids and when dropped results in liquid and solid debris. This is a hazardous condition for shoppers and for workers who must handle the solid debris with their hands in order to remove it and then separately absorb the liquid debris. Also there is a need for a spill cleaning device which is meant for a single use then can be replaced so that there is no cross contamination or any need to clean the spill cleaning device after its use. Not only is a spill cleaning device with a squeegee beneficial, it is even more useful if it is combined with a sachet member that contains sanitizing or cleaning liquid so the area of the spill can be cleaned with the same pad.  
         [0007]     The objects of the invention therefore are: 
        a) Providing a disposable spill cleaning device that can collect liquid and solid debris.     b) Providing a disposable spill cleaning device of the foregoing type which is able to collect solid and liquid spills and the cleaning of the spill area without the need for separate steps.     c) Providing a disposable spill cleaning device of the foregoing type which includes a breakable sachet member that contains cleaning and/or sanitizing liquid.     d) Providing a replaceable spill cleaning device of the foregoing type which is replaced after each use.        
 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0012]     The foregoing objects are accomplished and the shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by the replaceable spill cleaning device of this invention which in one embodiment includes a cleaning pad member, which may be made of an absorbent material, with at least one squeegee member and at least one a sachet member connected to the cleaning pad member. The spill cleaning device may also include an attachment member. The spill cleaning device has at least one squeegee member connected to the cleaning pad member. At least one sachet member containing a liquid is present within or attached to the cleaning pad member. The sachet member is constructed and arranged to be breakable when pressure is applied to the spill cleaning device. An attachment member is constructed and arranged to support the spill cleaning device allowing for use of the cleaning pad member, the squeegee member and sachet member in combination or separately.  
         [0013]     In one embodiment, the cleaning pad member of the spill cleaning device has at least one squeegee member, but preferable two squeegee members attached to the cleaning pad member with a sachet member positioned behind a single squeegee member or between the two or more squeegee members. The sachet member is within the cleaning pad member or attached thereto. The spill cleaning device further has a joining means to attach to an attachment member.  
         [0014]     In another embodiment, the cleaning pad member has at least one squeegee member where the squeegee member is concave in shape and is attached to the front of the cleaning pad member. The squeegee member extends above the cleaning pad member and is arranged in such a way to allow for the collection of debris. The spill cleaning device further has a sachet member within the cleaning pad member or attached thereto in the portion following the squeegee member. This embodiment in addition may have a second squeegee member attached to the cleaning pad member after the sachet member.  
         [0015]     In the preferred embodiment, the cleaning pad member is made of an absorbent material and is pliable which may be folded onto the attachment member and the one side has at least one squeegee member attached and on the opposite side the pad contains at least one sachet member. The spill cleaning device when attached to the attachment member with a pivoting head member on which the spill cleaning device is folded at approximately a ninety degree angle allowing for the use of the squeegee member without the sachet member contacting the surface then the head is pivoted and the sachet member is put on the surface and ruptured to emit a liquid.  
         [0016]     These and still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows. In the detailed description below, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in reference to the full scope of the invention. Rather, the invention may be employed in other embodiments. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the spill cleaning device engaged with the attachment member with the sachet portion down and ruptured.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the spill cleaning device engaged with the attachment members with the squeegee portion down.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the spill cleaning device.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  illustrating the spill cleaning device engaged with the attachment member with the sachet portion in a position to engage a surface.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the spill cleaning device engaged with the attachment member with the sachet portion down.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a partial cross sectional view of the spill cleaning device engaged with the attachment member with the sachet portion down.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a partial cross sectional view of the spill cleaning device engaged with the attachment member with the squeegee portion down.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of another embodiment of the spill cleaning device.  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the spill cleaning device of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the spill cleaning device of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a cross sectional side view of the spill cleaning device of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the preferred embodiment engaged with the attachment member with the squeegee portion down.  
         [0029]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the preferred embodiment engaged with the attachment member with the sachet portion down.  
         [0030]      FIG. 14  is top view of the preferred embodiment without the attachment means.  
         [0031]      FIG. 15  is a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment at line A of  FIG. 14   
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0032]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a spill cleaning device  11  including a cleaning pad member  12  with at least one squeegee member  25  and at least one sachet member  14  connected to said cleaning pad member  12 . The sachet member  15  is within or attached to the cleaning pad member  12  of the spill cleaning device  11 .  FIG. 1  shows the spill cleaning device  11  generally engaged with an attachment member  17  generally. The attachment member  17  has a pivoting head  21  wherein the spill cleaning device  11  is positioned to have the sachet member  14  in contact with a surface and ruptured to release the sachet member contents  24  which may be a cleaning and/or sanitizing substance that may be a liquid.  FIG. 1  shows a concave shaped squeegee member  15  not in use that is attached to a front portion  29  of the cleaning pad member  12  and extends above the cleaning pad member  12 .  
         [0033]      FIGS. 2, 4  and  5  are views of the same embodiment as show in  FIG. 1  of the spill cleaning device  11  generally engaged with attachment member  17  having a pivoting head  21 .  FIG. 2  shows a front view of the spill cleaning device  11  generally engaged with the attachment member  17  where the squeegee portion generally  20  is in the position to be engaged with a surface.  FIG. 4  shows the spill cleaning device  11  generally engaged with the attachment member  17  where in the sachet portion  19  is in the position to be engaged with a surface.  FIG. 5  shows a bottom view of the spill cleaning device  11  generally engaged with the attachment member  17  where the sachet portion  19  is in the position to not engage a surface.  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the same embodiment as above of the spill cleaning device  11  wherein the sachet member  19  is shown attached to the cleaning pad member  12 .  FIG. 3  further shows a top view of the concave shape of the squeegee member  15 .  
         [0035]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show the same embodiment as above in a cross sectional view of the spill cleaning device  11  generally engaged with the attachment member  17  wherein the squeegee member  15  has a cylindrical portion  28  and may be made of a natural or synthetic rubber material.  
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows the spill cleaning device  11  engaged with the pivoting head  21  of the attachment member  17  with the sachet portion  19  in used. The sachet member  14  is in contact with the surface  25  and the sachet member  14  within the cleaning pad member  12  has not been ruptured to release the sachet member contents  24 .  FIG. 7  shows the spill cleaning device  11  engaged with the pivoting head  21  of the attachment member  17  with the concave squeegee member  15  in use.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are the top and bottom view respectively of another embodiment of the spill cleaning device  27  with the attachment means  16  in the form of two straps  23  not engaged. The attachment means  16  of the spill cleaning device  27  may be straps  23  made of Velcro. The same reference numerals are employed to designate the same or similar parts as employed in conjunction with other embodiments of the spill cleaning device  11 . The spill cleaning device  27  has two squeegee members  15  with a sachet portion  19  and a sachet member  14  between the two squeegee members  15 . The sachet member  14  is within the cleaning pad member  12  and the squeegee members  15  are attached to the bottom of the cleaning pad member  12  and extends the length of the cleaning pad member  12 .  
         [0038]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are a side and cross sectional view respectfully of the embodiment of the spill cleaning device  27  of  FIGS. 8 and 9 .  FIG. 10  shows the side view of the spill cleaning device  27  engaged with the surface  25  where the sachet member  14  has not been ruptured. The cleaning pad member  12  is comprised of an absorbent material and/or a non-woven fabric. There are two squeegee members  15  that are in contact with a surface  25  with one embodiment of the attachment means  16  shown when not in use.  FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view where spill cleaning device  27  is engaged with the head  22  of the attachment member  17 . It shows the sachet member  14  is not ruptured with the sachet member contents  24  still intact. The squeegee members  15  are in contact with the surface  25  while the cleaning pad member  22  is not in contact with the surface  25  allowing for the removal of solid debris.  
         [0039]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are side views of the preferred embodiment of the spill cleaning device generally  32   FIG. 12  shows the spill cleaning device  32  engaged with the attachment member  17  and the squeegee portion  20  and the squeegee member  15  are engaged with the surface  25 . The same reference numerals are employed to designate the same or similar parts as employed in conjunction with other embodiments of the spill cleaning device  11  and  27 . The sachet member  14  and sachet portion  19  are up and are not in contact with the surface  25  this allows for collection of the spill debris with out the rupturing of the sachet member  14 . Subsequently the user can control when the sachet member contents  24  are released for cleaning or sanitizing the surface.  
         [0040]      FIGS. 14 and 15  are of the preferred embodiment of the spill cleaning device  32  in a plan view and a cross sectional view. The spill cleaning device  32  shows the sachet member  14  and the squeegee member  15 . The sachet member  14  is within the cleaning pad member  12  and the squeegee member  15  is attached to the cleaning pad member  12 .  FIG. 15  shows a cross sectional view wherein the sachet member  14  is shown in tact with the sachet member contents  24  inside. Also there is the squeegee member  15  attached to the cleaning pad member  12 .  
         [0041]     The invention further includes a method of absorbing a spill on a surface  25  wherein the spill and the surface are cleaned with a single device employing any embodiments of the spill cleaning device  11 ,  27  or  32 . The method of absorbing a spill on a surface  25  and cleaning the surface  25  with a single device comprises the placement of a cleaning pad member  12  with at least one squeegee member  15  and at least one sachet member  14  on spill. The spill cleaning device  11 ,  27  or  32  is placed on the surface  25  then moved toward the spill with the squeegee member  15  forward to collect all solid debris then collecting the liquid debris with the cleaning pad member  12 . The cleaning device  11 ,  27  or  32  is then generally adjusted so that the sachet portion  19  is in contact with the surface  25  and the sachet member  14  is ruptured allowing the releases of the sachet member contents  24  and the sachet portion  19  is then used to collect excess sachet member contents  24  and clean the surface  25 .  
         [0042]     In the method described above employing the spill cleaning device  11 ,  27  or  32  a sachet member  14  may be included wherein the sachet member contents  24  may be a cleaning and/or a sanitizing liquid which when ruptured releases the cleaning and/or sanitizing solution to cleaning the surface  25  with the cleaning pad member  12  once the spill debris is removed.  
         [0043]     As indicated previously the spill cleaning device  11 ,  27  or  32  of the method may include two squeegee members  15  one in front of the squeegee portion  20  and one at the front of the sachet portion  19 . The method includes employing two or more squeegee members  15  with an attachment member  17  which has a pivotal head  21  that allows for the use of the sachet portion  19  separately from the use of the squeegee portion  20  there by allowing for the cleaning of the spill debris with the cleaning pad member  12  constructed of an absorbent material which may be non-woven material to collect the liquid debris and the squeegee member  15  may be made of a natural or synthetic rubber in order to collect the solid debris. The pivotal head  21  is pivoted so the sachet portion  19  is in contact with the surface  25  allowing for the sachet member  14  to be ruptured thereby releasing the sachet member contents  24  to clean and/or sanitize the surface  25 .