Abstract:
A cleaning aid attachment is configured for connection to a handle of a conventional cleaning implement and includes a removable hand held sprayer connected to a handle of a cleaning implement. A retainer connects to the handle of the cleaning implement for retaining a roll of paper towels having a tube therein, wherein the tube of the towels receives the handle and the retainer holds the towels in a predetermined position on the implement handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the art of cleaning. More particularly, the invention relates to a spray device with ergonomic benefits and paper towel holder for attachment to a cleaning implement. 
     Conventionally, cleaning a floor requires a mop, bucket with cleaning solution therein, mop wringing and bucket carting. Recently, mops have been developed to dispense with the need of using a separate bucket of cleaning solution. One mop type includes a plurality of cloth cleaning strips wherein an outer strip can be peeled away after their cleaning usefulness has been achieved. This type of mop is often not as cost efficient and in situations which require use of additional cleaning solution on the floor and renders such use impractical. Another mop type has an integrally formed a cleaning solution container into the mop handle with a means for dispensing the solution on demand. The problem with this mop solution is that it is relatively costly and limited in method of application. One such mop requires a battery powered device to spray the cleaning solution and is relatively cost prohibitive. Another disadvantage of the prior designs is that they require a particular mop cleaning solution to operate effectively. 
     There remains a need to improve on existing cleaning technology, particularly the art of mops which do not require the use of a bucket of cleaning solution. The present invention overcomes the problems with the art and further provides an optimal solution for a cleaning implement providing economy in that can use various cleaning solutions, ergonomic design having more cleaning friction with less force, and versatility in that it can be used with a variety of current mop designs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide an improved cleaning implement. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a floor cleaning implement which can be used without a separate bucket of cleaning solution. 
     It is a further and more particular object of the invention to provide a retrofit sprayer handle and bottle holder for connection to many conventional cleaning implement. 
     It is another object to ease cleaning through the use of the present invention. 
     It is another object to provide a paper towel holder on a cleaning implement. 
     Still another object is to provide a more ergonomic mop design. 
     These as well as other objects are accomplished by the sprayer device and paper towel holder of the present invention. The retrofit sprayer handle and bottle holder is configured for connection to a handle of a conventional cleaning implement. 
     The retrofit sprayer handle and bottle holder includes a spray handle having a first end configured to receive an end of the implement handle and has means for retaining the same thereto. A second end of the spray handle includes a spray nozzle. An intermediate section connects the first end and second end and enables an ergonomic hand grip to be made thereon. 
     The spray handle further includes a pump trigger operatively connected to the nozzle. A supply tube has a first end extending into the spray handle which operatively connects to the pump trigger to supply fluid to the nozzle. A second end of the tube extends outside the spray handle. 
     A threaded cap receives the second end of the tube therethrough, wherein the cap is configured to thread to a conventional cleaning fluid supply bottle with the second end of the supply tube extending sufficiently therethrough to extend into the bottle fluid when the cap is connected to the bottle. A bottle holder is provided which connects to the implement handle for holding the bottle. 
     In one case, the spray handle is readily removable from the implement handle to provide the use of the spray handle in a manner relatively free from the implement handle&#39;s first end. The bottle holder is removably fixable to provide quick attachment and detachment to different implements. 
     Supply tube clips are also provided on the implement handle for retaining the tube. Additionally, the tube when retained by the clips forms a paper towel retaining mechanism. 
     Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon viewing the drawings and reading the detailed description hereafter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 a  is a perspective view of the invention in a mode of use. 
     FIG. 1 b  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 c  is a perspective view of the invention in another mode of use. 
     FIG. 2 is a partial assembly view of the invention of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a connector used in the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of another connector used in the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a spray handle of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 depicts and ergonomic handle of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, the sprayer device and paper towel holder of present invention for a cleaning implement  5  is generally designated by the numeral  10 . FIG. 1 a  illustrates retrofit sprayer handle  12  and bottle holder  46  in one mode of operation, while FIG. 1 c  depicts another mode of operation. 
     The sprayer device and paper towel holder  10  includes a sprayer handle  12  having a first end  14  having a collar configured to receive an end  16  of the implement handle  18  and has a connector  20  for retaining the same to the handle  18 . The end  14  is shown in FIG. 5 to have an open sleeve surface  22  to receive the end  16 . The connector  20  can include a ratchet clamp type mechanism  24  as seen in FIG. 3, for example. FIG. 1 a  depicts the sprayer handle  12  fixed to end  16  thus enabling the implement&#39;s handle  18  to be controlled through the spray handle  12 . In FIG. 1 c , the spray handle  12  is readily removably fixable to the implement handle  18  via clamp  24  to provide the use of the spray handle  24  in a manner relatively free from the implement handle&#39;s first end  16 . 
     A second end  26  of the spray handle  12  includes a spray nozzle  28  which when the end  14  is connected to the handle  18  is generally directed to spray in a path adjacent the handle  18 . It is contemplated that the spray nozzle  28  can be configured to spray in a desired predetermined path and pattern. An intermediate section  30  connects the end  14  and the end  26  and enables one&#39;s hand grip to be made thereon. 
     The spray handle  12  further includes a pump trigger  32  which is operatively connected to the nozzle  28 . A supply tube  34  has an end  36  extending into the spray handle  14  which operatively connects to the pump trigger  32  to supply fluid to the nozzle  28 . An end  38  of the tube  34  extends outside the spray handle  12  to a threaded cap  40 . 
     The threaded cap  40  receives the end  38  of the tube  34  therethrough, wherein the cap  40  is configured to thread to a conventional cleaning fluid supply bottle  44  with the end  38  extending sufficiently into the bottle fluid to enable operation in a manner to draw fluid to the nozzle  28  as a function of actuation of the pump trigger  32 . 
     A bottle holder  46  is provided which connects to the implement handle  18  for holding the bottle  44 . The bottle holder  46  can be configured to receive a range of bottle sizes. Again, one means for quick and secure attachment. i.e., clamp  24 , is shown, it is contemplated that other types of connections for the holder  46  can be employed to carry out the invention. 
     The bottle holder  46  is removably fixably to provide quick attachment and detachment to different implement handles. The bottle holder  46  can include, for example, a split sleeve  48  having one side connected to the holder  46  and another side having mating flange tabs  50  formed adjacent the split with aligning bores to receive bolts  52  and nuts  54  which enable connection to the implement handle. Optionally, a similar ratchet clamp can be used as depicted in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 4 depicts a connector sleeve  56  configured to frictionally slidably receive the handle  18  and has a supply tube clip  58  formed thereon for retaining an intermediate section  42  of the supply tube  34 . Again, the connector sleeve  56  can be alternatively formed in a manner as described to clamp the handle  18 . Another feature of the present invention depicted in FIG. 1 b  is its provision for a self supporting paper towel holder through the use of the sleeves  56  and tube  34  which when connected to the clips  58  serve as a retainer for the paper towels T. The paper towels T include a conventional inner tube which receives the handle  18  therethrough and the sleeves  56  and section  42  hold the towels T in place. Thus, when the sprayer handle  12  is removed and tube  34  unclipped, the towels are freely removed to serve as a ready aid in cleaning up surfaces, e.g., a cabinet, not ordinarily cleaned with the implement, e.g., mop. Thus, the surface area adjacent the floor to be cleaned can be cleaned, e.g., a spilled drink which leaks over the counter top, cabinet surface and onto the floor can be cleaned by one implement and its associated attachments. Since the sleeves  56  can be adjusted longitudinally, slack of the intermediate section  42  can be adjusted to meet a desired diameter of the paper towels T. 
     With reference to FIG. 6, the invention  10 ′ depicts a handle end  60  which is configured with some bend relative to the handle  18 . This enables the user to apply a force on the cleaning implement  5  in a more useful manner. The end  60  is further characterized to be a bendable extension. 
     The cleaning implement is therefore rendered a more productive cleaning tool with the addition of the present invention. In accordance with this invention, it has been found that the task of mopping a floor as well as adjacent cabinetry and counter surfaces is quicker and easier. As many variations will be apparent from a reading of the above description, such variations are embodied within the spirit and scope of this invention as defined by the following appended claims.