U.S. patent application number 10/504822 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-07 for cleaning tool and method for manufacturing cleaning portion constituting the cleaning tool.
Invention is credited to Yamada, Kikuo.
Application Number | 20050144749 10/504822 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27759689 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050144749 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yamada, Kikuo |
July 7, 2005 |
Cleaning tool and method for manufacturing cleaning portion
constituting the cleaning tool
Abstract
The present invention is a cleaning tool used to clean
furniture, electrical products, interior walls, and so forth. It is
an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning tool that
traps dust very well and is excellent at removing dirt. The
cleaning tool of the present invention comprises a cleaning
component (2) and a handle component (5), with the cleaning
component (2) being removably attached to the handle component (5).
The cleaning component (2) comprises a bulging component (40) bent
in a U-shape, a handle insertion component (3) formed inside said
bulging component (40), and a pleated component (4) formed along
and underneath the bulging component (40). A support component (10)
of the handle component (5) is inserted in the handle insertion
component (3) of the bulging component (40), and the cleaning
component (2) is supported at the distal end of the handle
component (5).
Inventors: |
Yamada, Kikuo; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHERMAN & SHALLOWAY
415 NORTH ALFRED STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
27759689 |
Appl. No.: |
10/504822 |
Filed: |
January 21, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
February 24, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP03/01985 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/226 ;
15/229.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/3026 20130101;
A47L 13/20 20130101; A46B 7/04 20130101; A47L 13/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/226 ;
015/229.3 |
International
Class: |
A47L 013/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 22, 2002 |
JP |
2002-46864 |
Oct 10, 2002 |
JP |
2002-297845 |
Claims
1. A cleaning tool comprising a cleaning component and a handle
component, wherein the cleaning component comprises a bulging
component bent in a U-shape, a handle insertion component formed on
the inside of said bulging component, and a pleated component
formed along and underneath the bulging component.
2. The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the pleated
component is formed in a narrow rectangular shape.
3. The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein a sheet bundle
cut surface is formed at the upper part of the bulging
component.
4. The cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the bulging
component has a pleated component on its upper portion.
5. A cleaning tool, wherein a narrow rectangular pleated component
is formed by making numerous cuts respectively on one side and the
other side of a sheet bundle comprising a plurality of stacked
sheets, the sheet bundle is bent in two so that the pleated
component on one side overlaps with the pleated component on the
other side, a seal component is formed near the pleated component
to form a bulging component demarcated from the pleated component,
the sheet bundle is further bent in two so that the pleated
components overlap with one another, forming a cleaning component
comprising a bulging component bent in a U-shape and a pleated
component formed along and underneath the bulging component, the
space formed on the inside of the bulging component constitutes a
handle insertion component, and a support component of a handle
component is inserted into said handle insertion component such
that the cleaning component is supported at the handle
component.
6. The cleaning component according to claim 5, wherein a cut line
is provided in the center of the sheet bundle, and the sheet bundle
is bent in two along this cut line.
7. A cleaning tool, wherein a narrow rectangular pleated component
is formed by making numerous cuts respectively on one side and
other side of a sheet bundle comprising a plurality of stacked
sheets, a cut line is provided in the center of the sheet bundle,
numerous cuts are made along this cut line to form a narrow
rectangular pleated component, the sheet bundle is bent in two
along the cut line, a seal component is formed near the pleated
component to form a bulging component demarcated from the pleated
component, the sheet bundle is further bent in two so that the
pleated components overlap with one another, forming a cleaning
component comprising a bulging component bent in a U-shape and
having a pleated component, and a pleated component formed along
and underneath the bulging component, the space formed on the
inside of the bulging component constitutes a handle insertion
component, and a support component of a handle component is
inserted into said handle insertion component such that the
cleaning component is supported at the handle component.
8. A method for manufacturing a cleaning component, comprising the
steps of: forming a narrow rectangular pleated component by making
numerous cuts respectively on one side and the other side of a
sheet bundle comprising a plurality of stacked sheets; bending the
sheet bundle in two so that the pleated component on one side
overlaps with the pleated component on the other side (first
bending step); forming a seal component near the pleated component
of this sheet bundle bent in two to form a bulging component
demarcated from the pleated component; further bending the sheet
bundle in two so that the pleated components overlap with one
another (second bending step); and linking the bent ends
together.
9. The method for manufacturing a cleaning component according to
claim 8, wherein a cut line is made along the bend line in the
first bending step of the sheet bundle.
10. A method for manufacturing a cleaning component, comprising the
steps of: forming a narrow rectangular pleated component by making
numerous cuts respectively on one side and the other side of a
sheet bundle comprising a plurality of stacked sheets; providing a
cut line in the center of the sheet bundle and making numerous cuts
along this cut line to form a narrow rectangular pleated component;
bending the sheet bundle in two along the cut line (first bending
step); forming a seal component near the pleated component of this
sheet bundle bent in two to form a bulging component demarcated
from the pleated component; further bending the sheet bundle in two
so that the pleated components overlap with one another (second
bending step); and linking the bent ends together.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a cleaning tool used for wiping,
and to a method for manufacturing a cleaning component that
constitutes part of a cleaning tool.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A duster has been used in the past as a cleaning tool for
dusting chests and other such furniture, computers, lighting, and
other such electrical products, and the interior walls, thresholds,
molding, and so forth of buildings.
[0003] A duster has a structure in which a plurality of cord-like
strips are attached to the distal end of a handle component, and
dust is removed by brushing a dusty surface with these cord-like
strips. Therefore, a conventional duster has no wiping function,
and so can not remove dust without scattering it into the air.
[0004] In an attempt to ameliorate this drawback to dusters, a
cleaning tool in which a cleaning cloth equipped with a wiping
component and a dusting component is provided to a head at the
distal end of a handle component has been proposed in Japanese
Laid-Open Patent Application H10-43115. With this cleaning tool,
however, the wiping component did not offer satisfactory wiping
performance, and the tool was also inconvenient to use.
[0005] In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2000-83883 has been
proposed a hand wiper comprising a handle component, a head
component, and cleaning cloth, with a main body constituted in the
middle of the head component, and a thin-walled flexible component
formed around the periphery of the main body. However, this hand
wiper did not offer satisfactory wiping performance, either, and
furthermore it was incapable of cleaning well in confined
spaces.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
cleaning tool that wipes away dirt very well and also provides
satisfactory cleaning ability in tight spaces.
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
method for manufacturing a cleaning component, with which a
cleaning component that constitutes part of a cleaning tool can be
manufactured easily.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is a cleaning tool comprising a
cleaning component and a handle component, wherein the cleaning
component comprises a bulging component bent in a U-shape, a handle
insertion component formed on the inside of the bulging component,
and a pleated component formed along and underneath the bulging
component.
[0009] With the present invention, a sheet bundle cut surface is
formed at the upper part of the bulging component, which allows a
raised nap to be formed at the upper part of the bulging
component.
[0010] Also, with the present invention, the bulging component has
a pleated component on its upper portion, but the pleated component
can also be formed in the bulging component itself. In this case,
the pleated component is constituted by cuts formed at the top end
of the bulging component.
[0011] The method for manufacturing a cleaning component comprises
a step of forming a narrow rectangular pleated component by making
numerous cuts respectively on one side and the other side of a
sheet bundle comprising a plurality of stacked sheets, a step of
bending the sheet bundle in two so that the pleated component on
one side overlaps with the pleated component on the other side
(first bending step), a step of forming a seal component near the
pleated component of this bent sheet bundle to form a bulging
component demarcated from the pleated component, a step of further
bending the sheet bundle in two so that the pleated components
overlap with one another (second bending step), and a step of
linking the bent ends together.
[0012] To form a sheet bundle cut surface at the upper part of the
bulging component and thereby form a raised nap at the upper part
of the bulging component, cut lines should be made along the bend
line in the first bending step of the sheet bundle.
[0013] To form the pleated component in the bulging component
itself, cut lines should be made along the bend line in the first
bending step of the sheet bundle, and numerous cuts made in the cut
end surface of this cut line.
[0014] Since the pleated component is formed on the cleaning
surface with the present invention, the pleated component can get
into tight spaces and irregular surfaces, allowing dust to be
trapped and wiped away more effectively, and allowing tight spaces
to be cleaned more easily.
[0015] With the present invention, a pleated component is formed by
making cuts in a sheet bundle comprising a plurality of stacked
sheets, and the sheet bundle is bent so that the pleated components
overlap with one another (first bending step), and after this first
bending, second bending is performed so that the pleated components
again overlap with each other, thereby bending the bulging
component in a U-shape, so there are many pleats per unit of
surface area, allowing the pleated component as a whole to be more
voluminous, the result of which is that wiping performance is
excellent.
[0016] Because there is a bulging component with the present
invention, the handle insertion component can be formed in this
bulging component, and as a result there is no need to stick
together separate sheets in order to form the handle insertion
component. Also, when a sheet bundle cut surface is formed at the
upper part of the bulging component so as to form a nappy surface,
or when the pleated component is formed in the bulging component
itself, the bulging component can be constituted as the cleaning
surface, and as a result two surfaces (the pleated component
underneath the bulging component and the top surface of the bulging
component) function as cleaning surfaces, which improves cleaning
efficiency and makes the tool more convenient to use.
[0017] An advantage to the method of the present invention for
manufacturing a cleaning component is that a cleaning component
with good wiping performance can be manufactured easily, with a
simple procedure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1(a) is a front view of the cleaning tool in a first
aspect of the present invention, and FIG. 1(b) is a plan view of
the same;
[0019] FIG. 2(a) is a front view of the cleaning tool in a second
aspect of the present invention, and FIG. 2(b) is a plan view of
the same;
[0020] FIG. 3(a) is a front view of the cleaning tool in a third
aspect of the present invention, and FIG. 3(b) is a plan view of
the same;
[0021] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) illustrate an example of a method for
manufacturing a cleaning component that constitutes a part of the
cleaning tool in the first aspect of the present invention;
[0022] FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) illustrate an example of a method for
manufacturing a cleaning component that constitutes a part of the
cleaning tool in the second aspect of the present invention;
[0023] FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) illustrate an example of a method for
manufacturing a cleaning component that constitutes a part of the
cleaning tool in the third aspect of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 7(a) is a front view illustrating an example of the
handle component in the present invention, and FIG. 7(b) is a plan
view of the same;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a front view of the handle component when
folded;
[0026] FIG. 9(a) is a vertical cross section of the folding
mechanism of the handle component, and FIG. 9(b) is a vertical
cross section along the D-D line in FIG. 7(a);
[0027] FIG. 10(a) is a plan view illustrating another aspect of the
handle component, and FIG. 10(b) is a plan view illustrating a
state in which the grip component of the handle component in FIG.
10(a) is extended;
[0028] FIG. 11(a) is a vertical cross section along the E-E line in
FIG. 10(a), and FIG. 11(b) is a cross section illustrating a state
in which the protrusion in FIG. 11(a) has been pushed in;
[0029] FIG. 12(a) is a detail side view illustrating the joint
portion of the support component and the grip component of the
handle component in FIG. 10(a), and FIG. 12(b) is a detail side
view illustrating a state in which the stopper of the grip
component in FIG. 12(a) has been moved;
[0030] FIG. 13(a) is a detail vertical cross section of around the
stopper in FIG. 12(a), and FIG. 13(b) is a detail vertical cross
section of around the stopper in FIG. 12(b); and
[0031] FIG. 14(a) is a detail vertical cross section of around the
joint portion in FIG. 12(a), and FIG. 14(b) is a detail vertical
cross section of around the joint portion in FIG. 12(b).
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0032] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. A
cleaning tool 1 comprises a cleaning component 2 and a handle
component 5, and the cleaning component 2 comprises a bulging
component 40 bent in a U-shape, a handle insertion component 3
formed inside the bulging component 40, and a pleated component 4
formed along and underneath the bulging component 40. The cleaning
component 2 is constituted such that a sheet bundle comprising a
plurality of stacked sheets is bent twice as discussed below (in
FIG. 1, 7 is the first bent component and 9 is the second bent
component). A linear seal component 6 is provided, parallel to the
bent component 7, to the sheet bundle that has been bent from the
bent component 7. The space formed by the provision of this seal
component 6 constitutes the handle insertion component 3. The seal
component 6 is formed by heat fusion, for example. 8a and 8b are
insertion openings in the handle insertion component 3.
[0033] Providing the first seal component 6 parallel to the bent
component 7 also encompasses situations in which the first seal
component 6 is inclined somewhat with respect to the bent component
7, or is curved.
[0034] The pleated component 4 has a narrow rectangular shape, and
as will be discussed below, this narrow rectangular pleated
component 4 can be formed by making numerous cuts on each side of
the sheet bundle.
[0035] There are no restrictions on the width of the narrow
rectangle, but 0.5 to 5 mm is preferable, and 1 to 3 mm is better
yet. If the width is less than 0.5 mm, the pleated component 4 may
be prone to tearing, but if it is wider than 5 mm, it may be too
wide to fit into narrow grooves, which diminishes its ability to
trap dust.
[0036] There are no restrictions on the length of the narrow
rectangle, but 20 to 100 mm is preferable, with 30 to 90 mm being
more preferable, and 40 to 70 mm even better. If the length is less
than 20 mm, the pleated component 4 may be too short to wipe away
dust efficiently, but if it is longer than 100 mm, it may be too
long to be handled easily, and the pleated components 4 may become
tangled in clumps.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable to provide a notch 11
at the upper end of the bent component 9 in the cleaning component
2 (that is, at the distal end of the bulging component 40). This
structure affords easier bending during the second bending so that
the pleated components 4 are lined up with each other after the
formation of the seal component 6 on the bent sheet bundle.
Providing the notch 11 also makes it easier to push the distal end
of the cleaning component 2 into tight spaces, which makes it
easier to clean tight spaces.
[0038] After the sheet bundle is bent for the second time to curve
the bulging component 40 in a U-shape, a connector 12 is provided
to link the bent ends together. The connector 12 may be provided
anywhere on the bulging component 40, but is preferably provided
near the ends of the insertion openings 8a and 8b of the handle
insertion component 3. Examples of connecting means include heat
fusion, stitching, and other such methods.
[0039] The bulging component 40 and the pleated component 4 are
provided integrally, but in another embodiment of the present
invention they may be created separately and then connected by heat
fusion, stitching, or another such method.
[0040] The sheets that make up the sheet bundle of the present
invention are preferably composed of short fibers. Short fibers
have the function of trapping and holding dust in their tiny voids,
and therefore are favorable as a material for wiping up dust.
[0041] There are no particular restrictions on the short fibers
that make up the sheet, but synthetic fibers are preferable in that
a sheet bundle can be easily produced by stacking a plurality of
sheets and then heat pressing them.
[0042] There are no particular restrictions on the synthetic
fibers, but composite fibers produced by covering polyester having
a low melting point with polyethylene having a high melting point.
Composite fibers constituted in this way have good rigidity, as
well as excellent flexibility, which makes them excellent for
wiping up dust. Also, heat fusion is easier because the fibers
retain their shape even if the temperature is set on the high side
with respect to the polyethylene during the heating and fusion.
[0043] Examples of sheets composed of short fibers include woven
and nonwoven cloth, but nonwoven cloth is preferable because of its
excellent dust absorption and abrasion resistance. Examples of
nonwoven cloth include spunlaced nonwoven, spunbond nonwoven,
suction bonded nonwoven, suction heat bonded nonwoven, and melt
blown nonwoven.
[0044] There are no restrictions on the number of sheets that make
up the sheet bundle of the present invention, but 2 to 10 is
preferable, and 3 to 6 is even better.
[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the present
invention. In this embodiment, a sheet bundle cut surface 15 is
formed on the upper part of the bulging component 40, which forms a
raised nap on the upper part of the bulging component 40. To form
this raised nap on the upper part of the bulging component, cut
lines should be made along the bend line in the first bending step
of the sheet bundle. A nappy surface is formed in the course of
this sheet cutting.
[0046] Also, in this embodiment two seal components, a first seal
component 6 and a second seal component 17, are provided as the
seal component, and the space formed by these two seal components
constitutes the handle insertion component 3.
[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the present
invention. In this embodiment, a pleated component 16 is provided
to the bulging component 40 itself. The pleated component 16 is
provided to the upper part of the bulging component 40, and has the
same narrow rectangular shape as the pleated component 4 under the
bulging component 40.
[0048] To form this pleated component 16 on the upper part of the
bulging component 40, a cut line is made along the bend line in the
first bending step of the sheet bundle, and numerous cuts are made
along the cut end faces of this cut line.
[0049] Again in this embodiment, two seal components, a first seal
component 6 and a second seal component 17, are provided as the
seal component, and the space formed by these two seal components
constitutes the handle insertion component 3.
[0050] Next, an example of the method for manufacturing the
cleaning component 2 will be described through reference to FIGS. 4
to 6.
[0051] First, a sheet is manufactured by piling up short fibers and
heat pressing them.
[0052] A plurality of sheets are then stacked to form a sheet
bundle 21.
[0053] Next, as shown in FIGS. 4(a), 5(a), and 6(a), seal
components 22 and 23 are provided to both ends in the lengthwise
direction of the sheet bundle 21. The seal components 22 and 23 are
preferably formed by heat fusion accomplished by heating and
pressing.
[0054] Next, two rows of narrow rectangular pleated component 4 are
formed by making numerous cuts 26 and 27 in one side 24 and the
other side 25 of the sheet bundle 21. If the strength of the sheet
bundle is directional, then it is preferable to form the cuts 26
and 27 parallel to the direction of higher strength because this
prevents the pleated component 4 from tearing easily.
[0055] Simultaneously with the step in which the cuts 26 and 27 are
made, a hole 28 is made in the center of the sheet bundle 21. There
are no restrictions on the shape of the hole 28, but as shown in
FIGS. 4(a), 5(a), and 6(a) this shape is preferably a circle having
two peak-shaped protrusions in the direction of the first bend line
(A-A line) passing through the center of the sheet bundle 21. It is
preferable for the hole 28 to be formed in this way because, as
shown in FIGS. 1(a), 2(a), and 3(a), the notch 11 will be linear,
which makes it easier to bend the cleaning component 2 from the
bending component 9, and also the distal end of the cleaning
component 2 will have a pointed shape, which makes it easier to
push into tight spaces during cleaning.
[0056] When the cleaning component 2 in the second embodiment is
manufactured, a cut line 30 is made along the first bend line (A-A
line) as shown in FIG. 5(a) prior to moving on to the next step.
Making this cut line 30 allow a raised nap to be formed on the cut
surface thereof.
[0057] When the cleaning component 2 in the third embodiment is
manufactured, a cut line 30 is made along the first bend line (A-A
line) and numerous cuts 31 and 32 are made along the cut end
surfaces of this cut line 30 as shown in FIG. 6(a) prior to moving
on to the next step. Making these cuts 31 and 32 allow the narrow
rectangular pleated component 16 to be formed in the bulging
component 40 itself.
[0058] Next, the sheet bundle 21 is bent in two along the first
bend line (A-A line) so that the pleated component 4 on the one
side 24 will overlap with the pleated component 4 on the other side
24 (first bending step).
[0059] The seal component 6 is then formed near the pleated
component 4 as shown in FIG. 4(b). Heat fusion is the preferred
means for forming the seal component 6. In the second and third
embodiments the second seal component 17 is provided in addition to
the seal component 6, a suitable distance away (FIGS. 5(b) and
6(b)).
[0060] The result of thus forming the seal component 6 is that the
bulging component 40 is formed demarcated from the pleated
component 4, a space is formed on the inside of this bulging
component 40, and this space constitutes the handle insertion
component 3. In the second and third embodiments the space (handle
insertion component 3) is formed between the two seal components 6
and 17.
[0061] Next, in the first, second, and third embodiments, as shown
in FIGS. 4(b), 5(b), and 6(b), respectively, the sheet bundle 21 is
bent in two so that the pleated components 4 overlap with each
other along the second bend line (B-B line) that passes at a right
angle through the center of the first bend line (A-A line) (second
bending step). This bend yields the cleaning component 2. The first
bend line (A-A line) corresponds to the bent component 7, while the
second bend line (B-B line) corresponds to the bent component
7.
[0062] The bulging component 40 is curved in a U-shape as a result
of the second bending step described above. Next, the U-shape is
fixed by linking through heat fusion or the like near the insertion
openings 8a and 8b in the handle insertion component 3 of the
bulging component 40. This yields the cleaning component 2
comprising the bulging component 40 curbed in a U-shape and the
pleated component 4 formed along and underneath the bulging
component 40.
[0063] Support members 10a and 10b of the handle component 5 are
inserted into the handle insertion component 3 through the
insertion openings 8a and 8b, respectively, in the handle insertion
component 3 of the cleaning component 2 formed as above, and the
cleaning component 2 is fixed to and supported by the distal end of
the handle component 5. The cleaning component 2 is removably
attached to the handle component 5.
[0064] The handle component in the present invention comprises a
grip component and a support component, and therefore can have any
of a variety of configurations.
[0065] Plastic, metal, wood, and other such materials can be used
for the handle component, but plastic is preferred in terms of
light weight and low cost. When a plastic is used as the material,
a polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, or other polyolefin
resin is preferable in that they are easier to mold.
[0066] Preferred aspects of the handle component that constitutes
part of the cleaning component of the present invention will be
described through reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9.
[0067] The handle component 5 comprises a grip component 42 and a
support component 10, and the support component 10 is made up of a
support member 10a and a support member 10b.
[0068] The spacing between the support member 10a and the support
member 10b provided to the handle component 5 is preferably wider
than the spacing between the insertion opening 8a and the insertion
opening 8b of the handle insertion component 3. If it is, then when
the support members 10a and 10b are inserted into the handle
insertion component 3, the spacing between the support members 10a
and 10b will be narrowed, and after this insertion into the handle
insertion component 3 the restitutive force of the support members
10a and 10b will be exerted outwardly, so that the support members
10a and 10b are securely held in the handle insertion component 3,
which keeps the support members 10a and 10b from readily coming
loose from the handle insertion component 3 during cleaning.
[0069] V-shaped notches 41 are provided as shown in FIG. 7 to the
outsides of the two support members 10a and 10b. The notch angle
.alpha. on the distal end side of the support component 10 of the
notches 41 is preferably large, and the notch angle .beta. on the
grip component side of the notches 41 is also preferably large.
When notches 41 such as these are provided, they make it easier to
insert the support members 10a and 10b into the handle insertion
component 3, and the support members 10a and 10b are less apt to
come out of the handle insertion component 3, which prevents the
support members 10a and 10b from coming out of the handle insertion
component 3 during cleaning.
[0070] The support component 10 and the grip component 42 are
bendable, and the support component 10 and the grip component 42
also can both be fixed in an extended state.
[0071] A receiver 44 is provided at the base of the support
component 10, an insertion component 45 is provided at the distal
end of the grip component 42, a recess 46 that mates with the
insertion component 45 is provided inside the receiver 44, a
bearing hole 49 is provided to the side walls 47 and 48 within the
recess 46 formed in the receiver 44, and a shaft 50 provided to the
side walls 51 and 52 of the insertion component 45 is rotatably
supported in the bearing hole 49.
[0072] A latching protrusion 54 is provided to the ceiling 53 of
the receiver 44, and a latching recess 55 in which the latching
protrusion 54 can fit is provided in the top surface 56 of the
insertion component 45. The grip component 42 is rotated around the
shaft 50 until the insertion component 45 enters the recess 46 and
the latching protrusion 54 inside the recess 46 is fitted into the
latching recess 55 of the insertion component 45. This puts the
grip component 42 and the support component 10 in their extended
state. When the grip component 42 is rotated in the opposite
direction from that described above, the latching protrusion 54 is
separated from the latching recess 55, allowing the grip component
42 to be stowed underneath the support component 10.
[0073] Further, the receiver 44 may be provided to the grip
component 42 and the insertion component 45 to the support
component 10, and the latching protrusion 54 may be provided to the
insertion component 45 and the latching recess 55 to the receiver
44.
[0074] FIG. 10(a) illustrates another aspect of the handle
component used in the cleaning tool of the present invention. The
handle component in the aspect illustrated in FIG. 10(a) is
constituted such that the support component 10 consisting of the
two support members 10a and 10b and a grip component 61 can be bent
at a connector 63, and the grip component 61 extends.
[0075] With the handle component in the aspect illustrated in FIG.
10(a), there is a void inside the grip component 61, a core 62 is
housed in this void, and the grip component 61 covers the outside
of the core 62 and is fitted slidably in the lengthwise direction
with respect to the core. As shown in FIG. 10(b), the handle
component extends and elongates when the grip component 61 is slid
in the lengthwise direction of the core 62.
[0076] A protrusion 67 is provided as shown in FIG. 10 near the end
in the lengthwise direction of the core 62. Also, through-holes 65
and 66 that mate with the above-mentioned protrusion 67 are
provided near the two ends in the lengthwise direction of the grip
component 61. As shown in FIG. 10(a), when the grip component 61 is
retracted, the protrusion 67 of the core 62 fits into the
through-hole 66 at the rear end of the grip component 61. As shown
in FIG. 10(b), when the grip component 61 is extended, the
protrusion 67 of the core 62 fits into and is fixed in the
through-hole 65 at the front end of the grip component 61. The grip
component 61 is fixed in the desired position by fitting the
protrusion 67 into either of the through-holes 65 and 66. The
protrusion 67 also prevents the grip component 61 from being pulled
out too far and coming loose from the core 62 when the grip
component 61 is extended.
[0077] As shown in FIG. 11(a), in a state in which the protrusion
67 of the core 62 is fitted into the through-hole 66 (or 65) of the
grip component 61, the grip component 61 is latched so that it will
not readily move with respect to the core 62. As shown in FIG.
11(b), the portion at the end of the core 62 where the protrusion
67 is formed is thinner than the other portion. When the grip
component 61 is slid, the protrusion 67 is pushed down with a
finger as shown in FIG. 11(b), which pushes the protrusion 67 into
the space inside the grip component 61, allowing the protrusion 67
to be easily unlatched from the through-hole 66 and making it
possible for the grip component 61 to slide as desired with respect
to the core 62.
[0078] The handle component in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10(a)
folds in two at the connector between the grip component and the
support component, and an anti-folding mechanism is provided so
that when the product is being used in a state in which these two
components are extended, this extended state will be maintained and
the components will not readily fold together. Specifically, as
shown in FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b), the anti-folding mechanism
comprises a stopper 64 formed slidably in the lengthwise direction
of the core 62, and a latching tab 68 that juts our from the side
wall of the connector 63 of the support component 10.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 12(a), to fix everything so that the grip
component will not rotate in a state in which the grip component
has been linearly extended with respect to the support component,
the stopper 64 is slid in the lengthwise direction of the core 62
until it presses against the connector 63. In this state, the upper
end of the stopper 64 on the connector 63 side is against the
latching tab 68 and cannot move upward. In contrast, as shown in
FIG. 12(b), when the stopper 64 is slid along the core 62 toward
the grip component in the lengthwise direction of the core, the
stopper 64 is no longer in contact with the latching tab 68. When
the stopper 64 has been slid in this way, the core 62 can be
rotated about 180.degree. around a rotary shaft 69 pivoting on the
connector 63 of the support components 10a and 10b, and thereby
folded in two.
[0080] The stopper 64 is formed so as to move no more than
necessary when the core 62 has been slid in the lengthwise
direction away from the latching tab 68. As shown in FIGS. 13(a)
and 13(b), a cylindrical protrusion 71 is provided to the upper
surface of the core 62, and a groove-like recess 72 is provided on
the cylindrical protrusion 71 side of the stopper 64. This
groove-like recess 72 is formed as a wall that is open on the grip
side of the stopper 64 and closed on the connector 63 side. As
shown in FIG. 13(b), when the stopper 64 has been slid away from
the latching tab 68 of the connector 63 in order to allow the core
62 to rotate, the cylindrical protrusion 71 strikes the wall on the
connector side of the groove-like recess 72 of the stopper 64,
preventing the stopper 64 from sliding any further in the grip
direction.
[0081] The handle component in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is
provided with a fixing mechanism comprising, as shown in FIGS.
14(a) and 14(b), a hemispherical protrusion 73 provided to the
bottom surface and between the side walls at the connector 63, and
a hemispherical recess 74 formed so as to mate with the
hemispherical protrusion 73, in order to fix the support component
and the grip component so that they will not fold when extended
linearly. In a state in which the grip component and the support
component are extended straight out, as shown in FIG. 14(a), the
hemispherical protrusion 73 of the support component 10 is fixed in
a state of being fitted into the hemispherical recess 74 of the
core 62. In contrast, when the handle component is to be folded up,
as shown in FIG. 14(b), if a fair amount of rotational force is
applied to the grip component, the hemispherical protrusion 73 of
the support component 10 is released from the hemispherical recess
74 of the core 62, the core 62 and the grip component 61 are
rotated, and the support component and the grip component are
folded in two.
[0082] Because it has the pleated component 4, the cleaning tool of
the present invention is able to trap dust effectively. If the
sheet bundle cut surface 15 is formed on the upper part of the
bulging component 40, or if the pleated component 16 is formed on
the bulging component 40 itself, then objects can be wiped clean
using not only the lower surface (pleated component 4) of the
cleaning tool, but also the upper surface (the pleated component 16
or the nappy surface provided by the sheet bundle cut surface
15).
[0083] The cleaning component 2 is a disposable type, and can be
replaced with a new cleaning component after new by removing the
cleaning component 2 from the handle component 5.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0084] The present invention can be used advantageously in the home
and elsewhere as a cleaning tool for dusting chests and other such
furniture, computers, lighting, and other such electrical products,
and the interior walls, thresholds, molding, and so forth of
buildings.
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