Abstract:
A cleaning system having a handle attached to a cleaning head and a first roller disposed within the cleaning head, the first roller adapted to supply unused cleaning cloth is described. The cleaning system can also include a second roller disposed within the cleaning head and adapted to store used cleaning cloth. The cleaning system can further include a control section adapted to engage or disengage the first and second rollers in response to a control input so as to provide unused cleaning cloth from the first roller and to take up and store used cleaning cloth on the second roller.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/516,938 filed Apr. 11, 2011 entitled “Device with Self-Changing Rolled Cleaning Cloth (Wet or Dry) for Floors and Other Flat Surfaces,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0002]    Embodiments relate generally to cleaning devices, and more particularly, to a cleaning system having a self changing cleaning surface. 
         [0003]    Conventional disposal cleaning systems typically provide a single use cleaning pad for wet or dry mopping. When the cleaning pad has become soiled or used, it can be removed and discarded. A limitation with conventional systems may be that the soiled cleaning pad must be handled and that work is interrupted to change the cleaning pad. 
         [0004]    Also, disposable single use cleaning pads found in conventional systems may limit the amount of cleaning that can be accomplished before a user stops and changes the cleaning pad. 
         [0005]    Embodiments were conceived in light of the above-mentioned problems or limitations, among other things. 
         [0006]    An embodiment includes a cleaning system having a handle attached to a cleaning head and a first roller disposed within the cleaning head, the first roller adapted to supply unused cleaning cloth is described. The cleaning system can also include a second roller disposed within the cleaning head and adapted to store used cleaning cloth. The cleaning system can further include a control section adapted to engage or disengage the first and second rollers in response to a control input so as to provide unused cleaning cloth from the first roller and to take up and store used cleaning cloth on the second roller. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a cutaway view of an example cleaning system in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of the underside of an example cleaning system in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of a cleaning system in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing handle detail of an example cleaning system in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of an example hand-held cleaning system in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of an example cleaning fluid supply bottle in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show an example retractable cleaning fluid nozzle system in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  shows an example recessed cleaning fluid nozzle system in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  shows an example cleaning system  10  having a handle  12  and a cleaning head  14 . Within the cleaning head  14 , there is a clean roller  16  and a used roller  18 . A cleaning cloth  20  can be supplied from the clean roller  16  to the used roller  18 . Also shown in the cleaning system  10 , is an optional spray nozzle  22  for spraying cleaning fluid on a surface to be cleaned, for example. 
         [0016]    In operation, the cleaning system  10  is used to clean surfaces such as floors, walls, windows or the like. The cleaning system  10  can include a cleaning and/or cleaning fluid adapted for cleaning a particular type of surface, such as wood, tile, vinyl, stone, metal, synthetics or the like. As the cleaning system  10  is being used, an exposed portion of cleaning cloth  20  may become soiled. In order to provide a fresh cleaning cloth surface to continue cleaning, unused cleaning cloth material can be fed from clean roller  16  while the used cleaning cloth material can be taken up on used roller  18 , thereby providing a fresh surface exposed for continued cleaning below the cleaning head  14 . It will be appreciated that although the term cleaning cloth is used herein, the cleaning cloth can be made of any suitable material such as cloth, paper, natural fiber, synthetic fiber or the like. 
         [0017]    The cleaning cloth  20  is supplied by roller  16  and travels out the front of the cleaning head  14  and wraps around the front bottom corner of the cleaning head. This configuration provides a corner edge over which the cleaning cloth  20  is stretched so that the cleaning system can reach corners. Also, a relatively firm, flat supportive surface is provided underneath the cleaning head  14  to cause the cleaning cloth  20  to be pressed against a work surface as the cleaning system is being used. 
         [0018]    As the cleaning cloth is fed from the clean roller, used to clean a work surface, then rolled onto the used roller, the supply of fresh cleaning cloth  20  supplied by roller  16  will eventually be exhausted. The cleaning cloth can be attached to a piece of plastic film (or other water resistant material) that is wound onto the clean roller first followed by the cleaning cloth such that, when the last cleaning cloth is unwound from the clean supply roller  16 , the plastic film beings to unwind from the clean supply roller  16 . There can be enough plastic film material supplied so that the plastic film can be wound around the used roller  18  and can cover the soiled cleaning cloth  20  that was previously wound around the used roller  18 . Thus, when handling the used roller, a user does not have to touch soiled cleaning cloth, but rather can contact only the plastic film. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  shows a diagram of the underside of the cleaning head  14 . In particular, the cleaning cloth or material  20  is shown spanning the clean supply roller  16  and a used roller  18  (both rollers shown in dashed lines). 
         [0020]    A cleaning fluid line  24  and a control cable or line  26  extend from the handle  12  into the cleaning head  14 . The cleaning fluid line  24  supplies cleaning fluid to the cleaning head  14  and, in particular, to the nozzles  22 . The control cable or line  26  is used to activate the self-feeding mechanism that provides a clean, fresh cloth or pad surface. The control cable  26  connects to a control mechanism  28 . The control mechanism  28  in conjunction with the control cable  26  allows the clean roller  16  and the used roller  18  to rotate when a user has activated a control on the handle  12 . For example, a user may activate a control on the handle  12  that is connected to control cable  26  in order to cause the clean roller and the used roller to rotate. As the clean roller rotates, it provides a fresh cleaning surface and the used or soiled portion of the cleaning pad or cloth is taken up on used roller  18 . 
         [0021]    It will be appreciated that the cleaning fluid and/or control lines can be mechanical and/or electrical and that the cleaning fluid spraying and self-changing of the cleaning cloth can be carried out by a manual, mechanical apparatus, by an automatic electro-mechanical apparatus or by a combination of the above. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a diagram of an example cleaning system in accordance with at least one embodiment. The cleaning system has a handle  12  and a cleaning head  14 . Also shown are a grip portion  30  and a first control  32  and a second control  34 . The first control  32  can be used to control the self-feeding mechanism and the second control  34  can be used to control dispensing of cleaning fluid which can be provided by cleaning fluid tank  36 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows the handle of a cleaning system in greater detail. In particular, the handle  12  includes a hand grip portion  30 , a first control  32  and a second control  34  as described above. In addition to or as an alternative to the controls  32  and/or  34 , a manual mechanical control  38  is shown disposed on the body of the handle  12 . The control  38  can be used to activate the self feeding mechanism described above within the cleaning head  14 . 
         [0024]    The controls (e.g.,  32 ,  34  and/or  38 ) can be placed anywhere on the handle according to a contemplated design. Also, the control for applying cleaning fluid can be an electrical switch that activates a pump/pressure system or it can be a mechanical control such as a squeeze pump or bulb that causes cleaning fluid to be pumped from the cleaning fluid supply and sprayed from the nozzles. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows a hand-held embodiment of a cleaning system  50 . The cleaning system includes a handle  52 , a cleaning head  54 , a clean supply roller  56 , a cleaning pad or cloth material  60 , a used roller  58 , a first control  62  and a second control  64 . In operation, the hand-held cleaning system  50  can be used to clean surfaces. When it is desired that a clean, fresh pad or cloth material be provided, a control  62  can be activated that allows clean cloth or pad material to be supplied from clean roller  56  and used or soiled cloth or pad material to be taken up by used roller  58 , thereby providing a clean surface of the cloth or pad material  60  to continue cleaning. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , a cleaning fluid supply bottle  602  includes a fluid containing portion  604 , a movable partition  606  and a pressurized portion  608 . The bottle  602  also includes a pressure inlet  610  and a fluid outlet  612 . 
         [0027]    In operation, air (or fluid) pressure is applied to the inlet  610 , which causes the movable partition  606  to move toward the fluid containing portion  604 . As a result, pressure in the fluid containing portion  604  increases causing cleaning fluid to be discharged from the outlet  612 . The cleaning fluid can then travel through a fluid supply line and be sprayed from one or more nozzles onto a work surface to be cleaned. 
         [0028]    By using pressure to cause the cleaning fluid to be discharged from the bottle  602 , the cleaning system can be used in any orientation (e.g., held up right vertically to clean windows) without depending on gravity to feed the cleaning fluid to the supply line. 
         [0029]    The movable partition  606  can be a pliable partition made of plastic, rubber or the like. The bottle  602  can be removed from the cleaning system and refilled with cleaning fluid. Alternatively, the bottle can be a disposable bottle. 
         [0030]    The bottle can also include a flexible membrane that contains the cleaning fluid, similar to the membranes (or liners) used in some baby bottles. The flexible membrane can collapse as the cleaning fluid is used. 
         [0031]    The inlet  610  and outlet  612  can be configured to connect with respective counterparts on the cleaning system. The bottle  602  can also include a releasable connection or latching mechanism to engage the bottle  602  and secure it to the cleaning system when in use. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show a cleaning head having a retractable cleaning fluid nozzle  704  coupled to a cleaning fluid supply line  706 . When cleaning fluid is not being applied, the nozzle  704  can be in a retracted position (as shown in  FIG. 7A ). When cleaning fluid is being applied, the nozzle  704  can extend as shown in  FIG. 7B . By providing a retractable nozzle system, the cleaning head can clean against a wall or other surface without a nozzle on the front of the cleaning head protruding and interfering. The retractable nozzle  704  can be biased in a retracted position by a spring (not shown) or the like, and can extend under force of cleaning fluid pressure or by other mechanical or electromechanical components. 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  shows a diagram of a cleaning head  802  having a recessed nozzle  804  that is fixed in place. The recessed nozzle  804  can apply cleaning fluid, while not interfering with the front of the cleaning head contacting a surface such as a wall. 
         [0034]    It is, therefore, apparent that there is provided, in accordance with the various embodiments disclosed herein, cleaning systems having a self-changing cleaning surface. 
         [0035]    While the invention has been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be or are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, Applicant intends to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the spirit and scope of the invention.