U.S. patent application number 10/380580 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-20 for device and cleaning pad for cleaning or treating surfaces or for applying media to surfaces.
Invention is credited to Brown, Colin William, Gohil, Kishen, Hart, Gerald Leslie, Hart, Susan, Naish, Guy Edward.
Application Number | 20040093678 10/380580 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8169886 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040093678 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hart, Gerald Leslie ; et
al. |
May 20, 2004 |
Device and cleaning pad for cleaning or treating surfaces or for
applying media to surfaces
Abstract
A cleaning device for cleaning surfaces such a toilet bowls or
baths comprising a handle having a trigger at one end and a head at
the other. The head is adapted to fit into a disposable cleaning
pad in the form of a slipper. The cleaning pad is fixed to the head
during the cleaning operation and it may be attached or removed
from the head by fixing means actuated by the trigger means. The
fixing means are actively disengaged from the cleaning pad by
ejection means.
Inventors: |
Hart, Gerald Leslie;
(Surbiton, GB) ; Hart, Susan; (Surbiton, GB)
; Naish, Guy Edward; (Bicester, GB) ; Brown, Colin
William; (Egham, GB) ; Gohil, Kishen; (New
Malden, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Norris McLaughlin & Marcus
30th Floor
220 East 42nd Street
New York
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
8169886 |
Appl. No.: |
10/380580 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
September 14, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP01/10643 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/104.94 ;
15/210.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 11/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/104.94 ;
015/210.1 |
International
Class: |
A47K 011/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 20, 2000 |
EP |
00120524.4 |
Claims
1. A cleaning device comprising a handle having towards one end a
grip portion and trigger means, and at the other end a head adapted
to receive a cleaning pad in the form of a slipper, the head
comprising a bottom surface which bears against a surface to be
cleaned; and fixing means actuated by the trigger to releasably fix
the cleaning pad to the head wherein fixing means are provided on
the device other than on said bottom surface.
2. A cleaning device according to claim 1 wherein the handle
comprises to handle sections which are configured in a
complementary manner such that when they are brought together in
opposed relationship they form conjointly the handle.
3. A cleaning device according to claim 2 wherein the head
comprises to head sections which are configured in a complementary
manner such that when they are brought together in opposed
relationship they form conjointly the head.
4. A cleaning device according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the head or
handle sections are mounted pivotally such that they open and close
in opposed relationship in a scissor-like manner.
5. A cleaning device according to any of the claims 2 to 4 wherein
the pivot is provided on the handle in a position proximal to the
head.
6. A cleaning device according to any of the preceding claims
wherein the fixing means is provided on the handle.
7. A cleaning device according to claim 6 wherein the fixing means
is a bore provided through the handle in a direction essentially
normal to its length which bore receives a portion of a cleaning
pad which passes through the bore to snag or catch the handle.
8. A device according to any of the preceding claims additionally
comprising ejection means which actively disengage the cleaning pad
from the fixing means to facilitate removal of the cleaning pad
from the device.
9. A device according to any of the claims 2 to 8 wherein the
fixing means is disengaged and the ejection means is actuated by
the user opening the handle sections.
10. A cleaning pad adapted for attachment to a cleaning device as
hereinabove described.
11. A cleaning pad in the form of a slipper comprising a body
defining an internal cavity for receiving a head of a cleaning
device and extending outwardly in a direction away from said cavity
an elongate tab portion which is adapted to engage with the fixing
means thereby to fix the cleaning pad to the head.
12. A cleaning pad according to claim 11 wherein the elongate tab
portion is T-shaped and optionally contains an adhesive surface for
fixing to the cleaning device.
13. A cleaning pad as hereinabove defined having secreted therein a
cleaning composition.
14. A container comprising a plurality of cleaning pads as
hereinabove described.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for cleaning or
treating surfaces or for applying media to surfaces, especially for
cleaning toilet bowls and the like. The invention further relates
to a cleaning pad that may be attached to said device to effect
cleaning operations and be removed easily after use.
[0002] Cleaning a toilet bowl is typically one of the most
undesirable jobs for most persons. Nevertheless, toilet bowls must
be kept clean in order to prevent sanitary problems, the potential
for irritable smells, and the possibility of harmful bacteria build
up.
[0003] Conventional cleaning brushes or sponges are unpleasant to
use because of the excessive dripping of water from the cleaning
surfaces, which may result in unsanitary storage between use.
[0004] However, the use of cleaning compositions which are
dispensed as a dosage upon flushing of a toilet, generally are not
as effective as manual scrubbing.
[0005] To overcome these shortcomings in conventional cleaning
devices and compositions, many proposals have been made for
cleaning devices which employ disposable cleaning pads. Such
devices generally consist of a handle having a trigger mechanism at
one end and a head at the other. The head is provided as a pair of
opposable jaws which may be opened and closed using the trigger
mechanism to engage and disengage a disposable cleaning pad. One
problem with the opposable jaw arrangement is that the cleaning pad
is only held by the jaws at the point at which they clamp together
such that some of the cleaning pad hangs limply from the head. As a
result, cleaning force applied through the head is not communicated
efficiently to the cleaning pad. Furthermore, those parts of the
pad not firmly held by the head will be prone to fold, slip or roll
thereby compromising cleaning performance.
[0006] Another prior art cleaning device is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 3,225,375. This cleaning device has a handle and a head
portion, the latter being adapted to receive a disposable cleaning
pad in the form of a slipper. The head is bulbous and is adapted to
have a slipper placed over it such that the slipper closely
conforms to the shape of the head. Accordingly, when the user
applies force to the head, the force is efficiently communicated to
the surface of the slipper in contact with the surface to be
cleaned to exert cleaning pressure. Further, as the slipper
conforms to the contours of the head, there is a reduced tendency
for the slipper to fold or roll. Because the slipper is simply
slipped over the head and not clamped by opposable jaws, the head
is provided with fixing means in the form of barbs that are
upstanding from the head and project rearwardly towards the
direction of the handle such as to oppose removal of the slipper
once attached to the head. A problem with having such fixing means
on the head is that they are provided on the bottom surface of the
head through which frictional forces are directed such that during
a cleaning operation the fixing means may be compromised, that is,
loosened or even torn from the cleaning pad. Still further, if the
fixing means remains engaged on the slipper during the cleaning
process then it may snag the slipper during its removal,
particularly as the slipper will be sodden with water and will
already have a tendency to cling to the head during a cleaning
operation.
[0007] We have now found a cleaning device that is substantially
free of the disadvantages of the prior art.
[0008] Accordingly, the invention provides in a first aspect a
cleaning device comprising a handle having towards one end a grip
portion and trigger means, and at the other end a head adapted to
receive a cleaning pad in the form of a slipper, the head
comprising a bottom surface which bears against a surface to be
cleaned in frictional engagement; and fixing means actuated by the
trigger means to releasably fix the cleaning pad to the head
wherein fixing means are provided on the device other than on said
bottom surface.
[0009] The device according to the invention is possessed of
numerous advantages: The cleaning pad may be releasably fixed to
the head by operation of the trigger means at a position remote
from the head. Attachment and release of the cleaning pad may
therefore be conducted without the need for a user to touch either
the head or the cleaning pad by hand. Furthermore, given that the
fixing means are not provided on a surface of the head that is
subject to cleaning frictional forces, the attachment of the
cleaning pad to the head is not compromised during a cleaning
operation.
[0010] The handle may be formed as an elongate member that is of a
length such that a user's hand is sufficiently removed from the
head to permit sanitary cleaning of a surface. The handle should
permit the user to exert cleaning pressure along its length and
through the cleaning head in order to provide sufficient frictional
force to provide the desired cleaning action, and the handle should
therefore be formed of a sufficiently rigid material, e.g. rigid
plastics materials, for this purpose.
[0011] The handle may consist of a single elongate member and it
may be hollow or channelled longitudinally. The hollow or channel
may house a portion of the trigger means. In the alternative, the
handle may comprise two handle sections which are configured in a
complementary manner such that when they are brought together in
opposed relationship they form conjointly the handle. In such an
embodiment, at the end of each handle section is a head section,
which head sections are likewise configured in a complementary
manner such that when they are brought together in opposed
relationship they form conjointly the head. The two handle sections
are joined pivotally such that they may open and close about the
pivot in a scissor-like manner. The two sections may be pivotally
connected at any point along their length although for ease of
leverage for the user, the pivot should be as far away from the
grip portion of the handle as is practical. This provides that the
pivot may be at the tip of the head sections, however, it is
preferred that the pivot is formed further up the handle in the
direction of the grip portion in order that this pivot is clear of
the water in, e.g. a toilet bowl in normal use, in order to prevent
the build up of germs in the pivot joint. For ease of manufacture,
the pivot connection may be formed by an integrally moulded stud on
one handle section that snaps into, and rotates freely within, a
recess or hole formed in the opposing handle section when the two
handle sections are connected.
[0012] The two handle sections may be longitudinally recessed in a
complementary fashion such that when they are closed together the
handle takes the form of a longitudinally hollow member. The two
sections may be locked together in a closed position using suitable
locking means, for example, one section may be provided with a
tongue and the other section provided with a co-operating recess
for receiving the tongue. The tongue being adapted to snap into the
recess in locking relationship and be easily opened when the user
provides gentle pressure to urge the handle sections apart.
[0013] The head consists of a body having a bottom surface which is
adapted to bear against a surface to be cleaned in frictional
engagement. Because surfaces to be cleaned will often have some
curvature, it is preferred if the head is either formed of a
resilient material such that the bottom surface will conform to
curved surfaces under pressure, and/or is jointed or articulated
such that certain portions of the bottom surface may deform to
conform to the curved surface. The head additionally comprises side
walls. The cleaning pad extends upwardly of the bottom surface over
the side walls which support it. In this way, movement of the
cleaning head is communicated to the cleaning pad such that it is
held in tight conformance with the head as it moves forward and
from side to side on a surface to be cleaned. Further, as the pad
does not present a free or exposed edge to a frictionally engaging
surface, the pad resists folding or rolling during cleaning
operations.
[0014] The head may be of any desirable shape. It may be an
essentially flat body, or it may be bulbous, e.g. in the form of an
ellipsoid. The latter configuration is advantageous not only in the
cleaning of curved surfaces, which may be typically encountered
with toilet bowls and baths, but also because of its relatively
bulky form will promote a cleaning pad in the form of a slipper, to
form a tight relationship with the head.
[0015] Preferably, the head is rather smooth and lacking in surface
detail or contours in order that germs cannot easily gather on its
surface. It may be of solid construction or in the form of a hollow
body in which case the hollow head may communicate with the
longitudinal hollow in the handle.
[0016] The head may be formed of a variety of materials. Preferably
it is formed of a resilient material that allows it to deform under
pressure to adopt the contours of the surface to be cleaned. The
head and handle may be integrally formed, for example by a moulding
or extrusion process.
[0017] The fixing means ensures the secure fitting of the cleaning
pad to the head such that the cleaning pad remains firmly in
contact with the contours of the head during the cleaning process
and cannot move backwards off the head during the cleaning process.
Further, after cleaning, the fixing means is readily disengaged in
order to permit removal of the cleaning pad. Both the fixing and
the disengagement procedures may be actuated from the grip portion
of the handle using the trigger means such that both procedures may
be conducted in a sanitary way. The fixing means may take any of a
variety of forms to achieve this dual purpose.
[0018] Thus, the fixing means may be provided as a clamp provided
on the handle proximally to the point at which head and handle
meet. The clamp may be actuated using the trigger means and which
may be operated from the grip portion of the handle. Conveniently,
the trigger means may comprise a rod, located in the hollow handle
or in the longitudinal channel, which projects outwardly of the
handle in the form of a button which can be operated from the grip
portion, and is connected to the clamp. Thus the user may open the
clamp to disengage the cleaning pad simply by depressing the
button. The rod may be spring-loaded, the spring being biased
against this movement such that when the button is released, the
spring returns the clamp to its closed position.
[0019] Other fixing means are contemplated by the present
invention. Thus, a cleaning pad may be slipped onto the head in a
manner described above, and a portion of the cleaning pad may be
adapted to hook onto or snag a portion of the handle and thereby
fix the cleaning pad to the head. In particular, the cleaning pad
may comprise an elongate tab portion that extends outwardly of the
slipper generally in the direction of the handle. This tab may
terminate in an approximately T-shaped portion. The handle may be
provided with a bore running through the handle in a direction
essentially normal to its length which is adapted to receive the
elongate tab portion of the cleaning pad such that when it has
passed through the bore, the T-shaped portion snags or catches the
handle such that the tab portion cannot return through the bore
under the normal forces experienced during the cleaning process.
Accordingly, the cleaning pad is held firmly in place during the
cleaning process.
[0020] If the handle is comprised of two handle sections pivotally
connected as hereinabove described, each handle section may have a
complementary recess such that when the handle is closed, the two
recesses cooperate to form the bore through the handle.
[0021] In a similar manner, the handle may contain a slot or groove
and a portion of the cleaning pad simply slides into the slot or
groove, is held in frictional engagement with the handle an thereby
fixes the cleaning pad to the head. Still further, when the handle
is comprised of two opposable sections, a portion of cleaning pad
may simply be gripped between the two sections when they are closed
together.
[0022] Still further fixing means may be provided by simply
inserting the cleaning pad over the head and fixing a portion of
the cleaning pad to the handle, for example with a suitable
adhesive, e.g. a silicone-based adhesive. In particular, an
elongate tab portion as hereinabove described may be provided with
an adhesive surface which enables the tab to be stuck directly onto
the handle. Alternatively, if the tab terminates in a T-shaped
portion as aforementioned, the ends of the T may be provided with
adhesive surfaces such that the tab may be looped around the handle
and connected together to form a collar around the handle and
thereby fixing the cleaning pad to the head.
[0023] In yet another embodiment, the fixing means may be provided
on the head in the form of one or more retractable pins which may
be actuated by the trigger means. In such an embodiment, the pins
are retracted by depressing the button portion projecting outwards
of the handle at the grip portion (a spring may be provided on the
trigger means that is biased against this movement), a cleaning pad
is then slipped over the head and the button thereafter release to
urge the pins into fixing contact with the cleaning pad. The pins
are held in contact with the pad under tension of the spring. Once
a cleaning operation is completed, the pins may be retracted to
disengage the cleaning pad to permit its removal.
[0024] The trigger means has been described above in terms of a
rod, secreted in a hollow provided in the handle, which connects a
button projecting from the handle, to a clamp. However, in a device
comprising pivotally-movable handle sections, the trigger means may
be provided by the relative movement of the handle sections which
movement may, for example, cause the aforementioned bore to open
and close to permit attachment or disengagement of the elongate tab
portion of the cleaning pad. Alternatively, opening the handle
sections may cause the elongate tab portion that is fixed on or
around the handle sections to tear away from the handle thereby to
disengage the cleaning pad from the head.
[0025] A device according to the present invention may additionally
be provided with ejection means which assists in the removal of a
cleaning pad from the cleaning head after a cleaning operation is
complete. Ejection means, upon actuation, either remove a cleaning
pad entirely from the cleaning head or disrupt, e.g. rupture or
tear the cleaning pad to an extent that its removal from the
cleaning head is rendered facile. In addition to its disrupting the
cleaning pad, it is a characteristic of the ejection means that it
actively disengages the cleaning pad from the fixing means.
[0026] Ejection means may play an important role in the removal of
a cleaning pad from a cleaning head. In particular, when a cleaning
pad is sodden after use it tends to cling to the head even after
the fixing means are disengaged from the pad. Removal may only be
effected by tearing the pad off by hand, or if the device is
vigorously agitated. Ejection means provide additional impetus to
remove the pad by disrupting it such that it no longer can cling
firmly to the head and its removal may be effected entirely or may
be substantially facilitated. The prior art device disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 3,225,375 contains means for tearing a used cleaning
pad, however, these means are unable to actively disengage the
cleaning pad from the fixing means as this term is meant in the
present invention. This is because the fixing means are provided as
upstanding barbs on the head which are reverse directed such that
even a torn pad must still be slid across the barbs to effect
removal which may be substantially hindered as a result.
[0027] In one embodiment of the present invention, the ejection
means may be actuated by pulling the handle sections open about the
axis of the pivot connection which causes the head sections to open
and in the process rupture a cleaning pad attached thereto. In such
an embodiment, ejection means are effectively provided by the
relative movement of the head sections. For optimal ejection,
movement of the handle sections should translate as movement in the
head sections to the greatest extent possible. To this end, it is
less preferred if the pivot of is provided at the tip of the head
section. In such an arrangement handle movement will translate to
considerably less head movement than would be the case if the
handle sections were pivotally connected higher up the handle
towards the grip portion.
[0028] In another embodiment, the ejection means may be provided by
a retractable member, e.g. a rod, that may be located in the hollow
provided in the handle and head. At the grip portion end of the
handle the retractable member may project outwards of the handle to
terminate in a button portion; whereas the other end of the
retractable member may terminate in an abutment portion which may
be flush with and form part of a surface of the head. Actuation of
the retractable member by depressing the button will cause the
abutment portion to move out of the plane of the head surface to
bear against a cleaning pad to urge the latter off the head.
[0029] In another aspect of the invention there is provided a
cleaning pad suitable for use with a cleaning device as hereinabove
described.
[0030] The cleaning pad must be capable of being firmly attached to
the head of a cleaning device, conform with the contours of the
head and be capable of withstanding disintegration as a result of
the frictional forces associated with the cleaning process.
Additionally, it should be easily flushable in a toilet bowl after
use. It should be inexpensive to manufacture on a large scale.
[0031] The cleaning pad may be manufactured from a
water-dispersible or water soluble, preferably biodegradable
material, that has sufficient mechanical strength when wet for a
normal period of use to permit of the cleaning process. Suitable
materials include paper, cardboard, pressed paper pulp and the
like. To add stiffness and a better cleaning action, surface
structure may be added to the pad, for example ridges, dots or
dimples. Cleaning compositions may be secreted in the cleaning pads
in a manner known per se. Cleaning pads are well known in the art
and the skilled person would appreciate other types of materials
that would be suitable for the intended purpose.
[0032] In one embodiment, the cleaning pad comprises a pad of
material that is folded and seamed to form a slipper open at one to
receive the head. The other end of the slipper may be closed such
that the front end of the head abuts the end of the slipper to
prevent further movement in the direction of entry of the head. The
cleaning pad thereby conforms to the shape of the head and grips
the head firmly. Projecting outwards from the aforementioned open
end of the slipper, the cleaning pad may be provided with an
elongate tab portion. At the end of the tab portion remote from the
pocket, the tab may be adapted to co-operate with the fixing means
to releasably secure the cleaning pad to the head of the cleaning
device. As discussed hereinabove, the end of the tab portion may
contain an adhesive surface which may be stuck to the handle; or it
may terminate in a T-shaped projection which may be wrapped around
the handle and the ends stuck together to form a collar; or it may
contain a T-shaped projection which passes through a bore in the
handle and thereby catches or snags the handle to secure the
cleaning pad onto the head.
[0033] In an alternative embodiment, the cleaning pad may be in the
form of a slipper consisting of an essentially flat body that fits
over the bottom surface of the head. In such an embodiment, the pad
additionally comprises a circumferential raised surface which is in
frictional contact with the side walls of the head when the flat
body of the pad is placed in contact with said bottom surface.
Additional fixing means may be provided on the head, for example
the retractable pins has hereinabove described for further securing
the cleaning pad to the head.
[0034] Specific embodiments of cleaning pads of the present
invention are shown in the figures below.
[0035] Cleaning pads may be stored in a suitable container and may
be provided in a stacked arrangement such that the top most
cleaning pad may be easily slipped onto the cleaning head without
any direct hand contact.
[0036] The invention is further illustrated with reference to
following description and drawings relating to specific embodiments
of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a first inventive cleaning
device;
[0038] FIG. 2 shows a partial view of the cleaning device of FIG. 1
with a pad attached;
[0039] FIG. 3 shows an inventive cleaning pad with a pocket and a
rearward tab;
[0040] FIG. 4 shows a grip portion of a cleaning device;
[0041] FIG. 5 shows a second inventive cleaning device;
[0042] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the device of FIG. 5;
[0043] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of a third inventive cleaning
device with a pad attached;
[0044] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the device of FIG. 7;
[0045] FIG. 9 shows a side view of the device of FIG. 7 with pad
attached;
[0046] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the device of FIG.
7;
[0047] FIG. 11 shows a second cleaning pad;
[0048] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of an another cleaning
device and a cleaning pad adapted to fit thereon.
[0049] FIGS. 13-16 show perspective views of another cleaning
device according to the present invention. FIGS. 15 and 16 show the
device in a closed/open position with a cleaning pad
attached/disengaging.
[0050] FIGS. 17 through 24 show plan and side-views of specific
cleaning pads.
[0051] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first inventive cleaning device 1
designed as a hygienic replacement for conventional WC brushes in a
side view without cleaning pad (FIG. 1) and with an attached
cleaning pad 4 (FIG. 2). The cleaning pad 4 itself is shown in FIG.
3. The device comprises an elongate handle 8 having a grip portion
2 at the upper part 8a and a cleaning head 3 at its opposite lower
part 8b. The cleaning head 3 is made of water impervious foam
material capable of only small deformations under the stresses
normally experienced during the WC cleaning operation. The cleaning
head 3 has a oval shape which is dimensioned to fit preferably
tightly into and to be at least partly surrounded by the cleaning
pad 4. The flexible cleaning pad 4 comprises therefore a flat oval
base portion 19, made of tissue paper, non-woven fabric or the
like. Preferably, the pad 4 consists of paper laminate which
protects the foam from contamination and is wiped over the surface
of the WC, possibly with an active cleaning powder integrated into
the bottom layers of the pad. The pad 4 further comprises a sheet
17 attached to the base portion 19 and forming a cleaning head
receiving pocket 18 with the base portion 19. The pad 4 further
comprises an elongate tab 21, preferably made of tear-resistant
material, preferably card, located opposite the pocket and
projecting upwardly and rearwardly. The device 1 further comprises
fixing means 5 for affixing a pad to the device. In FIGS. 1 and 2,
the fixing means 5 include a clamp 6 located near the lower part 8b
of the handle 8. The clamp 6 is able to secure a pad 4 that is
slipped over the cleaning head 3 by clamping a pad portion, here
the tab 21, and hold it in place during scrubbing. The clamp 6 is
movable via a trigger mechanism 9, including at least one rod 9' by
actuating first operating means 11. In FIG. 4, the means 11 for
actuating the trigger are located nearby the grip portion 2 and
include a collar 11' which is arranged around the upper part 8a of
the handle 8 and is able to slide up and down. The rod 9' is
directly or indirectly connected to the collar 11' and moves the
clamp 6 when the collar 11' is pulled and/or pushed. In FIGS. 1 and
2 the fixing means 5 are shown in solid lines in a first position
where a pad can be held in place. The fixing means 5 are shown in
dashed lines in a second position where a pad is released (FIG. 1
only). Returning means 10 including a spring 10' connected to the
clamp 6 keep the fixing means 5 in the first position when the
fixing means 5 are not actuated. The advantage is that the user
needs no force to keep the pad 4 attached. When pulled over the
cleaning head 3 the base portion 19 of the flexible pad 4 is
stretched over the convex bottom portion 7 of the cleaning head 3.
Its bottom side 20 forms an unruffled cleaning portion for
homogeneous application of cleaning detergent and controlled
scrubbing.
[0052] FIGS. 4A, B show the grip portion 2 of the device of FIGS. 1
and 2 with the actuating means 11 in the first and second state
respectively. As an alternative to the construction of FIGS. 1, 2
returning means 15 including a spring 15' are arranged near the
grip portion 2. The collar 11' is pressed downward by the spring
15' (FIG. 4A), when not pulled upward by the user (FIG. 4B). By
pulling the collar 11' upward, the fixing means 5 move, and a pad
can be brought into the attaching position.
[0053] FIGS. 5 and 6 show another example of an inventive device 1'
with a handle 8'. The cleaning head 3' comprises a three
dimensional frame 22 with an oval ring 22a, two wings 22b, 22c bent
upward and a bridge 22d bent downward. The cleaning head 3' can be
manufactured from a flat solid piece by cutting the shapes of wings
and bridge and bending these pieces appropriately. Alternatively,
it is manufactured by injection moulding.
[0054] By moving a clip 23 located near the grip portion a clamp 6'
is lowered or raised onto the tab 21 of the cleaning pad 4, as
shown in the partly sectional view of FIG. 6. The clamp 6' is part
of the fixing means 5' which further comprise a trigger mechanism
24. The cleaning pad 4 is designed to fit around the cleaning head
3', stretching over its bottom portion 7'. A tablet 26 with
cleaning detergent is attached at the bottom side 20 of the base
portion 19. After use, the clamp 6' is raised to release the tab 21
and the head 3' and pad 4 shaken under water to eject the pad which
can then be flushed away.
[0055] FIGS. 7 to 10 show a third embodiment of the inventive
device 1", with attached pad (FIGS. 7, 9) and without (FIGS. 8,
10). The handle 8" consists of two separated pieces, a shaft 8c and
a lower part 8b'. The lower part 8b' of the handle 8" is an
integral part of the cleaning head 3", e.g. moulded in one piece
with the frame 22', as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 7. A
collar 30 which may be fixed to or an integral part of the shaft 8c
is connected to the lower part 8b' via a spring mechanism 31. The
collar 30 as a part of the fixing means 5" comprises a clamp 6"
resting on the wings 22b', 22c' of the frame 22', as shown in FIGS.
7, 9 and 10, unless the collar 30 is pulled upward, as shown in
FIG. 8. A portion of the cleaning pad 4' is clamped between the
clamp 6" and the frame 22' to secure the pad 4' to the device
1".
[0056] A cleaning pad 4' for the use with a device 1" as shown in
FIGS. 7 to 10 is shown in FIG. 11. Like the cleaning pad 4 of FIG.
3 the cleaning pad 4' has an oval shape which is dimensioned to fit
preferably tightly around the cleaning head 3" of FIGS. 7 to 10.
The cleaning pad 4' comprises a flat, but flexible oval base
portion 19' and a sheet 17' attached to the base portion 19' and
forming a cleaning head receiving pocket 18' with the base portion
19'. The pad 4' further comprises an elongate tab 21' located at
the pocket and projecting rearwardly that can be gripped by the
clamp 6". A tablet 26' with cleaning detergent is attached to the
bottom side 20' of the pad 4', as shown in FIG. 7. The cleaning
pads 4, 4' preferably consist of water degradable materials, e.g.
laminated or non-woven cellulose, tissue paper and/or fleece
material, which are preferably recycled, welded by heat, pressure
or adhesive. The tabs 21, 21' are preferably made of card or the
same material as the pad itself. Preferably several pads are stored
in a dispenser with an opening through which the cleaning head can
be inserted for loading a fresh pad.
[0057] When not in use, the device may be hung from a wall fitting
or may be located in a suitable station device, for example a
floor-standing base having a housing that is adapted to receive the
head portion. The device may easily be removed or inserted into the
station by gripping and applying pressure to the handle.
[0058] The device 32 shown in FIG. 12 comprises a handle 33 having
at one end a trigger 34 and at the other end a head 35. The handle
is hollow and internal of the handle is a trigger mechanism (not
shown) which connects the trigger 34 with retractable pins.
Depressing the trigger 34 causes the retractable pins to be
withdrawn to permit a cleaning pad 36 to be fitted over the head
35. A spring on the trigger mechanism (not shown) is biased the
movement of the trigger such that when the user releases the
trigger, the retractable pins extend outwardly of the head to abut
a circumferential wall 37 on the cleaning pad and thereby fix the
cleaning pad tightly to the cleaning head. When the cleaning pad is
to be removed after a cleaning operation, the trigger is simply
actuated to retract the pins and the cleaning pad can be gently
urged off the cleaning head.
[0059] FIGS. 13 and 14 shows a cleaning device wherein the handle
39 is formed of two opposed handle sections 39a, 39b which are
pivotally mounted 41, the head 40 is similarly composed of head
sections 40a, 40b. Fixing means are provided by a bore 42 which
runs through the handle in a direction essentially normal to it
length. It can be seen more clearly from FIG. 14 that the bore is
provided by recesses 42a, 42b formed in each of the handle sections
which cooperate to form the bore when the handle sections are in
closed relationship.
[0060] FIG. 15 shows the same device in its closed position and
having a cleaning pad 43 slipped over the head. The cleaning pad
comprises an elongate tab portion 44 (partly shown) which extends
rearwardly of the main body of the cleaning pad 43 and passes
through the fixing means 42 to snag or catch the handle by means of
the T-shaped portion 45. When the handle sections are opened (see
FIG. 16) by the user, the head sections separate tearing the
cleaning pad and considerably facilitating the removal of the pad.
Furthermore, as the handle is opened so the fixing means widens
thereby to actively disengage the cleaning pad from the handle. In
FIG. 16 one can see that the fixing means are opening and the
elongate tab begins to disengage by slipping through the bore 42.
It follows that the opening of the handles by the user provides a
very simple and elegant trigger means for engaging and disengaging
the fixing means, and at the same time ejection means within the
meaning of the present invention. To add a new cleaning pad, the
handle sections are simply closed together and the head sections
close in a corresponding manner to permit a new cleaning pad to be
inserted.
[0061] FIG. 17 shows a plan view of a cleaning pad 43 having an
essentially T-shaped end portion 45 to the elongate tab portion 44.
Part of the handle 39 is shown in plan view to illustrate how the
elongate tab portion passes through the bore 42 and the T-shaped
end portion 45 snags the handle.
[0062] FIG. 18 shows another cleaning pad in plan view and in
end-section having an elongate tab 44 having an adhesive surface
51. The elongate tab may pass through the bore 42 on the handle and
loop back on itself before being stuck onto the body of the
cleaning pad 43 by means of the adhesive surface 51.
[0063] FIG. 19 shows another cleaning pad in plan view having an
elongate tab portion 44 terminating in a T-shaped portion 46. The
T-shaped portion may be wrapped around a handle (not shown) and
fastened thereon by tightening and tying the draw-string 47. A
similar pad is shown in FIG. 22, however, the draw-string is
replaced with adhesive fastening means provided by the adhesive
surfaces 51. FIG. 23 show a plan view of a variant cleaning pad
wherein the essentially T-shaped end portion is replaced by an
essentially L-shaped end portion 52 which may be wrapped around a
handle a fastened thereon by means of the adhesive surface 53.
[0064] FIG. 20 shows yet another cleaning pad in plan view with an
essentially circumferential elasticated band 48 to ensure that the
cleaning pad fits tightly over the head (not shown). FIG. 24 shows
a variant of this design wherein the elasticated band 48 is
replaced by a draw-string 54 that may be tightened and the tied
around a handle (not shown).
[0065] FIG. 21 shows yet another cleaning pad in plan view and
end-section wherein the elongate tab portion 44 terminates in a
projection 49 which will be oriented between the opposed handle
sections 39a, 39b or alternatively the head sections 40a, 40b. As
the handle sections are closed the projection 49 will be trapped
between said opposed sections and thereby fasten the cleaning pad
to the head.
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