Abstract:
A cleaning implement includes a joint for attaching the handle to a cleaning end and permitting two opposing sides of the cleaning end to be used to clean a surface. The joint is constructed in a manner that permits the desired movement of the cleaning end, but also utilizes few components and has a structure that permits quick and simple assembly. The cleaning end can include features that enhance its strength and stability. In addition, the cleaning end can include features that enhance the transfer of fluid from one side of the cleaning end to the opposing side of the cleaning end. Further, the cleaning end can include features that promote the drying of a cleaning material attached to the cleaning end after use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/293,438, filed Jan. 8, 2010, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Cleaning implements for cleaning a surface, such as a floor, are well known in the art. Cleaning implements suitable for both wet and dry cleaning of a surface are also known. Cleaning implements of this type typically include a handle attached to a cleaning end. A cleaning material is attached to the cleaning end for cleaning a surface. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The cleaning implement includes a joint that attaches the handle to the cleaning end and permits two opposing sides of the cleaning end to be used to clean a surface. The joint, in combination with the shape of the cleaning end, permits the user to “flip” the cleaning end over to utilize its opposing side. Thus, when a cleaning material is attached to the cleaning end, the cleaning implement has twice the useable surface area of a cleaning implement that only utilizes one side of the cleaning end. 
         [0004]    The joint is constructed in a manner that permits the desired movement of the cleaning head, but also utilizes few components and has a structure that permits quick and simple assembly, all of which contribute to the reduction of the manufacturing costs to produce the cleaning implement. The joint can be a two-piece construction with components that can be snap-fit together. In addition, the joint can have a snap-fit connection to the cleaning end. 
         [0005]    The cleaning end can include features that enhance its strength and stability. In addition, the cleaning end can include features that enhance the transfer of fluid from one side of the cleaning end to the opposing side of the cleaning end. Further, the cleaning end can include features that promote the drying of a cleaning material attached to the cleaning end after a wet-use application. 
         [0006]    A cleaning implement for cleaning a surface is disclosed. The cleaning implement includes a handle with a distal end, a multidirectional joint connected to the handle near the distal end, and a cleaning end connected to the multidirectional joint. The cleaning end has first and second opposing sides, and at least one of the first and second sides has a web. The web includes a plurality of wells. The multidirectional joint is moveable such that the first side can be used to clean the surface, and the multidirectional joint is moveable such that the second side can be used to clean the surface. 
         [0007]    In addition, another embodiment of a cleaning implement for cleaning a surface is disclosed. The cleaning implement includes a handle with a distal end, a multidirectional joint connected to the handle near the distal end, and a cleaning end attached to the multidirectional joint. The cleaning end has first and second opposing sides. The cleaning end has a plurality of apertures disposed in a pattern extending across substantially the entire cleaning end. The multidirectional joint is moveable such that the first side can be used to clean the surface, and the multidirectional joint is moveable such that the second side can be used to clean the surface. 
         [0008]    Further, another embodiment of a cleaning implement for cleaning a surface is disclosed. The cleaning implement includes a handle with a distal end, a multidirectional joint, and a cleaning end. The multidirectional joint has a handle coupling portion and a cleaning end coupling portion. The handle coupling portion is connected to the cleaning end coupling portion. The handle coupling portion is connected to the handle near the distal end. The cleaning end is connected to the cleaning end coupling portion. The cleaning end has first and second opposing sides. The cleaning end coupling portion is removeably connected to at least one of the handle coupling portion and the cleaning end. The multidirectional joint is moveable such that the first side can be used to clean the surface, and the multidirectional joint is moveable such that the second side can be used to clean the surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cleaning implement; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the cleaning implement of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of the cleaning end and joint for the cleaning implement of  FIG. 1  with the handle removed; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the cleaning end and joint shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged exploded top plan view of the cleaning end and joint shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged exploded bottom view of the cleaning end and joint shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged exploded front view of the cleaning end and joint shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged exploded rear view of the cleaning end and joint shown in  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged exploded right side view of the cleaning end and joint shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Turning to the figures, a cleaning implement  100  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The cleaning implement  100  can include a handle  102  and a cleaning end  104 . A cleaning material  106 , such as a cleaning pad, can be removably attached to the cleaning end  104  to clean a surface, such as a floor. The cleaning material  106  can be any suitable material, such as a microfiber cleaning pad. In addition, the cleaning material  106  can be reusable or disposable, and the cleaning material  106  can be a material suitable for a wet cleaning and/or a dry cleaning application. The cleaning material  106  can include a pocket for receiving the cleaning end  104 , and can have a cleaning surface  108  on its exterior sides such that both of the opposing sides of the cleaning material  106  can be used to clean a surface. The cleaning material  106  can be removably coupled to the cleaning end  104  in any suitable manner including, but not limited to, the use of hook and loop type fasteners to retain the cleaning material  106  to the cleaning end  104 . 
         [0019]    The handle  102  can be coupled to the cleaning head  104  with a joint  110 . The joint  110  can have a structure suitable to permit the handle  102  to move in multiple directions, and the shape of the cleaning end  104  along with the structure of the joint  110  can permit the cleaning end  104  to pivot about the joint  110  such that both of the opposing sides  112 ,  114  of the cleaning end  104  can be used to clean a surface. It will be appreciated that the joint  110  can provide any suitable degree of movement to permit the cleaning end to be “flipped” such that either of the opposing sides  112 ,  114  of the cleaning end  104  can be used to clean a surface. In addition, the joint  110  can have a suitable structure such that it can be quickly assembled. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the joint  110  can include a handle coupling portion  116  and a cleaning end coupling portion  118 . The handle coupling portion  116  attaches to the handle  102  in a suitable manner. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the handle coupling portion  116  can include a threaded receptor  120  for receiving a threaded end  122  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the handle  102 . The handle coupling portion  116  can be attached, such as removably attached, to the cleaning end coupling portion  118 . The handle coupling portion  116  can be attached to the cleaning end coupling portion  118  to permit a pivoting movement, such as from side to side (e.g., left to right and vice versa) as shown in the representative figures. As shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , the handle coupling portion  116  may have fingers  124  that snap-fit to a cylindrical bridge  126  on the cleaning end coupling portion  118  when assembled. It will be appreciated that the handle coupling portion  116  can be connected to the cleaning end coupling portion  118  in any suitable way, and these components can move in any suitable manner. 
         [0021]    Referring again to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the cleaning end coupling portion  118  is attached, such as removably attached, to the cleaning end  104 . The cleaning end coupling portion  118  can be attached to the cleaning end  104  to permit a pivoting movement, such as from side to side (e.g., front to rear and vice versa) as shown in the representative figures. As shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  8 , and  9 , the cleaning end coupling portion  118  may have fingers  128  that snap-fit to a cylindrical bridge  130  on the cleaning end  104 . It will be appreciated that the cleaning end coupling portion  118  can be attached to the cleaning end  104  in any suitable way, and these components can move in any suitable manner. 
         [0022]    Utilizing a two-piece joint  110  with snap-fit connections reduces the number of components utilized with the joint  110  and makes assembly of the cleaning implement  100  both simple and efficient, all of which reduces the manufacturing cost of the cleaning implement  100 . In addition, the structure of the joint  110  permits sufficient freedom of movement of the handle  102  such that the cleaning end  104  can be directed as desired by the user. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the cleaning end  104  includes a notch  132  permitting the cleaning end  104  to be pivoted about the joint  110  such that both opposing sides  112 ,  114  of the cleaning end  104  can be used to clean a surface. 
         [0023]    The cleaning end  104  can have a particular shape that enhances the cleaning implement&#39;s ability to clean a surface. Referring again to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the cleaning end  104  can include a web  134 , which enhances the strength of the cleaning end  104 , particularly when the cleaning end  104  has a relatively large length and/or width to clean a larger surface area with each sweeping motion. Each cleaning side  112 ,  114  of the cleaning end  104  can include a web  134 . As shown, the web  134  can have a general honeycomb shape, but it will be appreciated that the web  134  could have any suitable shape. The web  134  helps to distribute the force from the user across the surface of the cleaning end  104 . In addition, the web  134  reduces the amount of surface area in contact with the cleaning material  106 , which helps the cleaning material  106  dry after it has been used for a wet cleaning application. 
         [0024]    Wells  136  are formed within the web  134 . The wells  136  can be any suitable shape formed from any suitable number of sides. The wells  136  can include apertures  138  that also help the cleaning material  106  to dry after a wet cleaning application. Further, the apertures  138  permit the flow of fluid, such as cleaning solution, from one side of the cleaning end  104  to the other. Thus, the apertures  138  can help improve the distribution of fluid throughout the cleaning material  106 . The cleaning end  104  can also include one or more handholds  140  that can be grasped by a user to aid in placing the cleaning material  106  on and/or removing the cleaning material  106  from the cleaning end  104 . The handholds  140  can be particularly helpful in applications, such as in hospitals, where the cleaning material  106  must be changed frequently. 
         [0025]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0026]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.