U.S. patent application number 11/689707 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-27 for cleaning implement.
Invention is credited to Jason C. Billig, Charles A. Curtiss, Stuart M. Leslie, David Mallard.
Application Number | 20070220693 11/689707 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38335610 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070220693 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Billig; Jason C. ; et
al. |
September 27, 2007 |
CLEANING IMPLEMENT
Abstract
A cleaning implement is disclosed that provides multiple
functions useful in cleaning windows and similar surfaces. There is
a support head that has three sides, one being a cleaning liquid
applicator side and two presenting an absorbent sheet. The liquid
applicator side can apply a cleaning liquid to a surface to be
cleaned and optionally can provide scrubbing to the surface. The
sheet can perform rough drying followed by finish drying, and/or
other functions. Replacement liquid applicator cartridges and
replacement sheets, or stacks of sheets, are also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Billig; Jason C.; (Mt.
Vernon, NY) ; Leslie; Stuart M.; (Larchmont, NY)
; Curtiss; Charles A.; (Norwalk, CT) ; Mallard;
David; (Somerville, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
S.C. JOHNSON & SON, INC.
1525 HOWE STREET
RACINE
WI
53403-2236
US
|
Family ID: |
38335610 |
Appl. No.: |
11/689707 |
Filed: |
March 22, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60784912 |
Mar 22, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/104.94 ;
15/118; 15/232 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/12 20130101;
A47L 1/08 20130101; A47L 13/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/104.94 ;
15/118; 15/232 |
International
Class: |
A47L 1/06 20060101
A47L001/06 |
Claims
1. A cleaning implement for cleaning a surface, comprising: a
handle; a support head mounted on the handle for rotation, the
support head having at least two sides that can be selectively
positioned adjacent the surface; an absorbent sheet removably
covering at least one of the sides of the support head; and a
substrate forming one of said sides of said support head and being
impregnated with a cleaning fluid and also being removably
mountable to the support head, the substrate being suitable to
deliver cleaning fluid to the surface.
2. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the support head has
at least three sides that can be selectively positioned adjacent
the surface.
3. The cleaning implement of claim 2, wherein the absorbent sheet
removably covers two of the sides of the support head.
4. The cleaning implement of claim 3, wherein the absorbent sheet
is part of a stack of such absorbent sheets, the stack being
removably mounted to the support head along two of the sides such
that a first sheet of the stack can be tom off from the stack after
use to expose a second sheet of the stack.
5. The cleaning implement of claim 4, wherein the first sheet of
the stack has weakenings to facilitate tearing off the first sheet
from the stack.
6. The cleaning implement of claim 4, wherein at least one
absorbent sheet of the stack comprises an outer absorbent layer
linked to an inner barrier layer.
7. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the substrate
comprises a fibrous material selected from the group consisting of
polyester fiber, polypropylene fiber, cellulose acetate fiber, and
bonded polyolefin fiber, and the substrate is impregnated with a
cleaning fluid.
8. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the substrate can be
removed from a remainder of the support head independently of
removal of the absorbent sheet from that remainder of the support
head.
9. The cleaning implement of claim 1, further comprising a
removable cover suitable to cover the substrate prior to use, and
the support head is essentially triangular in cross section.
10. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the support head is
capable of freely rotating along its longitudinal axis, but not for
a complete 360 degrees of rotation.
11. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the absorbent sheet
has at least one slot adjacent an end of the sheet that can hook
onto a projection of the support head.
12. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein a side of the
support head is pivotably hinged to another side of the support
head to facilitate mounting of the absorbent sheet.
13. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the substrate is
mounted to a cartridge housing, and the cartridge housing is
mounted to the support head.
14. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein a cartridge housing
houses a plurality of separated porous material that are
impregnated with cleaning fluid.
15. A refill cartridge for a cleaning implement, the cleaning
implement being of a type suitable to clean a hard surface, the
cartridge comprising: a cartridge housing; and a porous substrate
mounted to the housing, wherein the substrate is impregnated with a
cleaning liquid and the substrate is suitable to deliver the
cleaning fluid to the surface.
16. The refill cartridge of claim 15, wherein the substrate
comprises a fibrous material is selected from the group consisting
of polyester fiber, polypropylene fiber, cellulose acetate fiber,
and bonded polyolefin fiber, and the substrate is impregnated with
a window cleaner.
17. The refill cartridge of claim 15, wherein the substrate
comprises an applicator portion and a reservoir portion.
18. The refill cartridge of claim 17, wherein the reservoir portion
is positioned in at least two separated wells, the two separated
wells each holding a separate piece of a porous absorbent material
impregnated with a cleaning liquid.
19. The refill cartridge of claim 17, wherein the applicator
portion is divided into segments.
20. The refill cartridge of claim 15, wherein the substrate is
sized so as to avoid gravity alone causing the cleaning liquid to
drool out of the substrate.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority on U.S. provisional
application 60/784,912, filed Mar. 22, 2006.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to devices for cleaning
windows and other hard surfaces. More particularly, it relates to
"all-in-one" type devices that deliver a cleaning fluid, work the
fluid along the surface being cleaned, and remove the used
liquid.
[0004] Cleaning of windows and other hard surfaces typically
requires several tools and is a multi-step process. One typically
picks up a spray bottle and spray the window, then picks up a
sponge or cloth and works the cleaning fluid along the window
glass, then picks up a squeegee, rag or other device to remove the
used cleaning fluid. Hence, several devices are required, and time
is needed to shift from device to device.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 1,376,195 disclosed an all-in-one type window
cleaning device. The device had a reservoir containing cleaning
liquid that impregnated a moistening element/sponge. The device
collected the used liquid in an adjacent catch reservoir on the
device. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 2,722,701 disclosed a device which
supplied a cleaning liquid and collected at least some of it in an
adjoining absorbent pad region. However, with these devices once
the liquid was used up or the collection capacity of the device
exceeded, it was difficult to adapt the device for continued use.
Moreover, the devices were not compact and were unduly heavy.
[0006] There have also been some attempts to provide a cleaning
head with multiple cleaning sides rotatably connected to a handle.
See e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,171,152 and 5,596,786. There were also a
number of devices that contained cleaning surfaces having different
cleaning characteristics, allowing a user to select an appropriate
surface for a particular step in the cleaning or other surface
treating process. See e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,461,749, 6,733,595,
and 6,766,552.
[0007] There were also a variety of cleaning devices where a
cleaning sheet or pad, once used, could be replaced. See e.g., U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,461,749 and 6,202,250, and U.S. patent application
publication 2004/0117935.
[0008] There were yet other cleaning devices where multiple
cleaning sheets were mounted in stacked fashion, with the external
most sheet being removable after use to expose a fresh sheet. See
e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,298,517, 6,405,403, and 6,810,554.
[0009] While there have therefore been substantial activity in the
area of developing cleaning implements with improved
characteristics, further improvements are still desired,
particularly with respect to developing improved all-in-one type,
cleaning implements.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In a first aspect the invention provides a cleaning
implement for cleaning a surface. It has a handle and a support
head mounted on the handle for rotation. The support head has at
least two sides that can be selectively positioned adjacent the
surface. There is also an absorbent sheet removably covering at
least a first of the two sides of the support head, and a substrate
forming another of the sides which is impregnated with a cleaning
fluid and removably mountable to the support head. The substrate is
suitable to deliver cleaning fluid to the surface.
[0011] In preferred forms the support head has at least three sides
that can be selectively positioned adjacent the surface, and the
absorbent sheet removably covers at least two of them. The
absorbent sheet can be part of a stack of such absorbent sheets,
and the stack can be removably mountable to the support head along
those two sides. Using such a structure a first sheet of the stack
can be tom off from the stack after use to expose a fresh second
sheet of the stack. If desired the first sheet of the stack can
have weakenings and tabs to facilitate tearing off of the first
sheet from the stack.
[0012] When using such stacks it is important that the used liquid
that reaches the outermost sheet of the stack not reach the
underlying sheets. Thus, it is preferred that each absorbent sheet
comprises an outer absorbent layer laminated or otherwise linked to
an inner barrier layer.
[0013] It is also desirable that the substrate be a porous material
that readily releases impregnating liquid upon contacting a
surface. This can be anything from a sponge-like material to a
fibrous material. It is particularly preferred that the substrate
be made of a fibrous material selected from the group consisting of
polyester fiber, polypropylene fiber, cellulose acetate fiber, and
bonded polyolefin fiber, and the substrate be impregnated with a
window cleaning fluid. Also possible is using melamine foam
materials.
[0014] Such a substrate is configured to deliver cleaning fluid in
a controlled manner. It also provides a scrubbing surface for
working in the fluid along the window being cleaned. Further, the
substrate can be selected to be suitable to reabsorb at least part
of the used cleaning liquid, and filter it so as to be able to
reuse it to some extent.
[0015] It should be appreciated that if a stack of sheets is used
it can be replaced as one unit separately from the substrate.
Further, the substrate can be replaced independently of the sheets.
Hence, the useful life of each can be optimized.
[0016] With respect to some porous materials it is desirable that
their size be controlled (e.g. typically to less than 8 cm in any
direction). Longer structures in any direction may tend to drool
due to the head pressure caused by gravity along the structure.
[0017] In this regard, head pressure can be defined as the pressure
of the liquid in the substrate material. Each type of substrate
material can hold up to some maximum height of the liquid in a
vertical direction (regardless of the thickness of the material)
before the liquid begins to drool out of the material. Therefore,
at greater than the maximum head pressure of the material, the
force of gravity is greater than the ability of the material to
hold the liquid.
[0018] The maximum head pressure can be determined by loading
various sizes of the substrate material to saturation with a liquid
of interest and then placing the pieces of material on end to check
which vertical heights leak and which vertical heights retain
liquid. With the types of fibrous material we prefer to use we have
found that once the pieces of material begin to exceed about 8 cm a
drool problem can exist for typical window cleaners.
[0019] With some cleaning liquids it is desirable to cover the
substrate, or a cartridge containing the substrate, between uses to
minimize evaporation from the substrate. This can be achieved with
a removable cover. That cover will also limit evaporation prior to
the first use, albeit prior to the first use a sealed packet may be
the preferred way to protect the cartridge.
[0020] In particularly preferred forms the support head is
essentially triangular in cross section (most preferably isosceles
triangular). This permits free rotation of the support on its axis
for about 300 degrees of rotation. Additional rotation is prevented
as the longer end of the triangle will contact a structure of the
handle before further rotation can occur. This helps insure that
the support head surfaces are optimally aligned with typical
vertical surfaces being cleaned (e.g. a window).
[0021] Structures are also preferably provided to facilitate quick
attachment and removal of the absorbent sheet(s). Each sheet can be
provided with slots adjacent its ends which can hook onto
corresponding projections on the support head. Some of the
projections can be on a side of the support head that is pivotably
mounted to another side. The attachment of the sheet(s) can be made
when the sides are pivoted open and the sheet stack can then be
dragged into a tight alignment by the closing of the sides.
[0022] The substrate is preferably mounted to a cartridge housing,
with the cartridge housing being mounted to the support head and
holding a plurality of additional substrate pieces in separate
wells. Further, a portion of the substrate facing the surface to be
cleaned can be segmented with non-porous barriers between the
segments. These structures further facilitate cleaning while
minimizing drool.
[0023] In another aspect the invention provides a refill cartridge
for such a cleaning implement. There is a cartridge housing and a
porous substrate mounted to the housing. The substrate is
impregnated with a cleaning liquid and the substrate is suitable to
deliver the cleaning fluid to the surface.
[0024] In preferred forms the substrate is formed of a fibrous
material selected from the group consisting of polyester fiber,
polypropylene fiber, cellulose acetate fiber, and bonded polyolefin
fiber, and the substrate is impregnated with a window cleaner. The
substrate may have an applicator portion and a reservoir portion,
where the reservoir portion has at least two separated portions,
the two separated portions each being a separate piece of a porous
absorbent material impregnated with a cleaning liquid.
Alternatively, the reservoir portion can be an integral portion of
the same block which has the applicator portion.
[0025] The applicator portion can be divided into segments. Hence,
the substrate is sized so as to avoid gravity (via head pressure)
alone causing the cleaning liquid to drool out of the
substrate.
[0026] In operation the support head is first rotated on its own
longitudinal axis to align the substrate with a surface to be
cleaned (e.g., a window glass surface). By pressing the substrate
against the window cleaning liquid is applied to the window.
[0027] The support head is then turned to align one of the sheet
sides with the window and the sheet along that side is then pressed
against and wiped on the window. This may be for a crude drying
function, or, depending on the nature of that portion of the sheet,
may also provide some scrubbing function or other function as well.
If desired, the support head can then be turned again so that the
other sheet side can be pressed against and dragged on the surface.
This can then perform a final drying.
[0028] When the exposed sheet has become saturated or too dirty, it
can be torn off. Tear weakenings can be provided transversely along
a strip adjacent the slots to facilitate this. The barrier layer of
the top exposed sheet prevents the sheet then being exposed from
being prematurely soiled.
[0029] While we prefer a single sheet of uniform material draping
two sides of the support head as the preferred absorbent sheet
(optionally in the form of a stack of such sheets), the exposed
material along one side of the support head can be of a first
nature and the material adjacent another side can be of another
nature. See e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,522.
[0030] Moreover, two separate sheets, or two separate stacks of
sheets, may be used so that a sheet on one side can be separately
removed or installed relative to the sheets along the other side.
In any event, the sheets covering the two sides may have identical
or different functional characteristics to perform either identical
or different functions, at least one which is absorbing used
cleaning liquid from a surface being cleaned and drying the
surface.
[0031] The sheets in the stack may be optionally attached together,
for example, by heat sealing at two opposing ends of the sheets.
Each tear-off sheet may optionally have other features that
facilitate the removal of the sheet. For example, the sheets may
also have tabs to facilitate the start of the tearing. A variety of
other ways to attach the sheets to the support head are also
possible such as clamping, bolting, and adhering via Velcro.RTM.
type of hooks or loops.
[0032] The handle provided may be a one-piece handle or a
multi-piece elongatable handle. For example, a handle having a fork
and two telescoping extension parts is preferred.
[0033] Such devices are suitable for cleaning building windows.
However, they can also be used for cleaning automobile windows and
other hard surfaces. A variety of cleaning liquids can be used
ranging from water to specialized window cleaners (e.g. Windex.RTM.
brand window cleaner), to other hard surface cleaning or treatment
fluids. The liquid may have other functions besides just cleaning
(e.g., polishing, antibacterial treatment, insect treatment, etc.).
Thus, the nature of the liquid is not critical to the
invention.
[0034] The portion of the substrate material adjacent the window to
be cleaned ("the applicator") is preferably of sufficient integrity
so that it does not degrade and leave residue while being rubbed
against the window. It is also preferred that this portion of the
substrate material have some abrasiveness or roughness to provide
scrubbing to the surface. The substrate is most preferably in
slab-like segments of a porous absorbent material, such as a
fibrous filtering material selected from the group consisting of
polyester fiber, polypropylene fiber, cellulose acetate fiber, and
bonded polyolefin fiber. Particularly preferred absorbents are
polyester fiber materials, polypropylene fiber materials, cellulose
acetate fiber materials, and bonded polyolefin fiber materials
available from Filtrona Richmond Inc. (Colonial Heights, Va.).
Alternatively, one could use a porous polyethylene material
available from Porex or a cellulosic pad with horizontal capillary
fibers made of plastic to improve integrity and water transport.
Another possibility is the use of melamine foam.
[0035] The substrate can be frictionally fit into a cartridge
housing. A variety of ways are available to mount the cartridge
housing to the support head such as snap fits, hooks, clamps or
other structures.
[0036] All of the cleaning liquid may be in the substrate.
Alternatively, additional cleaning liquid may be positioned in an
adjacent reservoir of the cartridge unit so as to resupply and
refresh the substrate. In this latter application the substrate can
form a type of cap over the reservoir(s). Another possibility is
for additional strips or pieces of the substrate to form a type of
reservoir which feeds the applicator portion.
[0037] Hence, it will be appreciated that a variety of advantages
are achieved by various embodiments of the present invention. The
functions of providing cleaning liquid, scrubbing stains, and
collecting the used liquid are all achieved by a single compact
tool, which can be inexpensively manufactured. The above functions
are optimized through use of replaceable and disposable parts.
[0038] The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will
become apparent from the following description. In the following
description reference is made to the accompanying drawings which
form a part thereof, and in which there is shown by way of
illustration preferred embodiments of the invention. Such
embodiments do not represent the full scope of the invention.
Reference should therefore be made to the claims herein for
interpreting the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a cleaning implement of
the invention;
[0040] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a portion thereof, but with the
support head rotated to another position;
[0041] FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the support head
portion of the FIG. 1 device;
[0042] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but with the support
head rotated;
[0043] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with parts exploded
outward from the handle;
[0044] FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded view of the support head of
FIG. 1; and
[0045] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0046] Turning first to FIGS. 1-4, a generally triangular cross
section cleaning implement is shown having a support head
(generally 10) with one side being a substrate 12 for applying a
cleaning liquid, and two sides 13A/13B being covered by a stack of
absorbent tear-off sheets 14. There is also a handle structure
(generally 16) having a lower end 18 and an upper end 19 linked to
a fork 20.
[0047] The support head 10 is rotatably mounted between the arms 40
and 42 to align the impregnated substrate 12 with a surface to be
cleaned (such as a window glass surface 22). When holding the
handle lower end 18 the substrate 12 can be pressed against and
dragged on the window glass surface 22, thereby applying cleaning
liquid to the surface and to some extent scrubbing the surface to
help remove stains and other deposits.
[0048] Next, the support head 10 can be rotated as shown in FIGS. 2
and 4 to align one of the tear-off sheet sides with the glass
surface 22. A sheet 14 can then be pressed against and dragged on
the surface to absorb most of the used liquid. Over-rotation of the
support head 10 is blocked with contact between the elongated point
of the support head's triangle and the linking structure 44 of the
fork 20.
[0049] Then, the support head can be rotated in the opposite
direction through about 300 degrees of rotation so that the
opposite side of a sheet 14 can finish the drying process (see FIG.
4). When the top tear-off sheet is sufficiently saturated or
soiled, it can be torn off to expose a fresh sheet underneath. Note
for example weakening perforations 104/106 in FIG. 6 to facilitate
the tearing off of a top sheet 14. When not in use, the substrate
12 can be covered by a removable cover 23 (see FIG. 6) to prevent
evaporation of cleaning liquid.
[0050] The preferred handle has separate segments 24, 26, and 28
that are linked together. With this handle segments 26 and 28 can
telescope to provide varied length options. The segment 28 may be
locked into either a compact position (dotted lines in FIG. 1) for
easy storage and transportation, or an extended position for
additional reaching capability. This can be achieved via a pair of
outwardly biased button tabs 30 and 32 on the segment 26 and
corresponding openings on the adjacent parts. When these buttons
are aligned with their corresponding openings they prevent
disassembly or relative sliding movement. Pressing the buttons
radially inward permits disassembly or relative sliding
movement.
[0051] Arms 40 and 42 have prongs 46 and 48 extending towards each
other for retaining the support head 10 in an axle-like manner. As
best seen in FIGS. 5-7, the support head 10 is in the general shape
of an isosceles triangular prism with longer sides 49 and 51 than
connecting side 53 (FIG. 7). The support head 10 has connector
walls 50 and 52 and the three lateral sides 54, 56, and 58.
[0052] Sides 54 and 56 support the tear-off sheets, and side 58 is
formed by the removable substrate 12. The connector walls 50 and 52
and the side 56 may be of a single piece and this piece may be
pivotally connected to the side 54 by pins 59 and 60 through holes
62 and 64 on the connector walls 50 and 52 and holes 66 and 68 on
the side 54.
[0053] The side 54 may therefore be pivotally opened and closed
relative to the side 56 (see FIG. 6). When the side 54 is closed,
it is locked into the closed position by a snap connection to the
connector walls 50 and 52 via a pair of tabs on the side 54 (tab 70
and a similar tab (not shown) on the opposite end of the side 54)
and a pair of corresponding receiving pockets on the connector
walls 50 and 52 (pocket 72 on the wall 52 and a similar pocket (not
shown) on the wall 50). The sides 54 and 56 have fold-in sections
74 and 76 each with projections 78 and 80 extended there from for
retaining the stack of tear-off sheets 14.
[0054] Preferably, the substrate 12 has a transverse portion
presented as a liquid applicator side 58. It is mounted to a
cartridge 82 that has a container 84 that houses multiple pieces of
substrate 86 (the same or a different material than substrate 12)
that has been impregnated with a cleaning liquid. Each of the
pieces of substrate 86 are axially aligned but separately stored in
corresponding wells 88 of the container 84.
[0055] Preferably, the substrate 12 has a outward applicator
portion 90 and an inward reservoir portion 86. In any case each
portion should have a high capacity for liquid, and at least the
outward applicator portion 90 should be made of a material of
sufficient integrity so that it does not degrade and leave residue.
Thus, while tissue paper typically has a very high capacity for
absorbance, it would not be an optimal material for the outward
applicator portion 90 as it would crumble and leave lint and other
pieces on the window if dragged against the window.
[0056] Outward applicator portion 90 is segmented into segments by
regions 91. This can be achieved by having a single block that
forms portion 90, but melting regions 91 to disrupt and compress
these regions to interrupt wicking portions. Alternatively,
separator walls could be made of a substantially non-porous
material. The outward applicator portion 90 can be mounted (e.g.,
glued) to a plate 92 of the container 84 to close the container,
after each of the pieces of reservoir substrate 86 have been placed
in a corresponding well 88.
[0057] The size of each piece of impregnated substrate is made
sufficiently small, due to this compartmentalization and
segmentation, to prevent head pressure developed by gravity along
the substrate from causing a drooling problem, regardless of the
direction that the head is held in.
[0058] The plate 92 may have a snap connection tab 94 extended
there from, and a similar tab on the opposite side (not shown) to
removably mount the cartridge 82 to the support head 10 by fitting
the tabs into two receiving pockets 96 and 98 on the connector
walls 50 and 52. The container 84 may have one or more grooves on
the outside that can be aligned with and slide along at least one
of spines 97 and 99 underneath the side 56 to guide the
installation of the cartridge 82.
[0059] Each sheet may have a front absorbent layer and a rear
barrier layer laminated to the back of the absorbent layer. The
barrier layer would prevent the sheet, when wetted, from
wetting/soiling an underlying sheet. The sheets may be attached
together by heat sealing at two opposing ends of the sheets.
[0060] As best seen in FIG. 6, each sheet may also have slots 100
and 102 near the two opposing ends for securely wrapping the sheet
around the sides 54 and 56 by fitting the holes onto projections 78
and 80. Further, note that the side 54 may be pivoted open to
facilitate the mounting of the sheet. Pivoting the side closed then
drags each sheet into a tight fitting configuration.
[0061] Each sheet, when there is a stack of sheets, may also have
perforations 104 and 106, and tabs 108, 110, 112, and 114, to
facilitate the removal of used sheets. For example, a used top
sheet may be removed by lifting one of the tabs 108-114 and tearing
along the perforations 104 and/or 106 to expose the next fresh
sheet underneath. When the whole stack is used up, a new stack can
be installed to the support head 10 by opening the side 54 and then
removing the portion of the stack remaining on the projections 78
and 80. A new stack can then be placed on the projections.
[0062] When using the FIG. 1 implement, a window or other hard
surface can be cleaned and dried without needing any other tool or
element besides the cleaning implement of the present invention.
The implement provides its own supply of cleaning liquid, provides
scrubbing via pressing and dragging the applicator, and provides a
way to rough dry and then finish dry the window.
[0063] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been described and otherwise disclosed herein, alternative
embodiments are also intended to be within the scope of the claims.
For example, the stack of sheets may have two side-by-side areas so
that the first side to be used has another function (e.g.
scrubbing; applying a treatment chemical). Thus, the invention is
not to be judged solely by the preferred embodiments. Rather, the
claims should be looked to in order to judge the full scope of the
invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0064] The present invention provides a cleaning implement for
windows or the like which performs multiple functions, and
replacement cartridges and stack refills for use therewith.
* * * * *