U.S. patent application number 12/627451 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-03 for cleaning supplies caddy.
Invention is credited to Scott W. Allan.
Application Number | 20100133132 12/627451 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42212033 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100133132 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Allan; Scott W. |
June 3, 2010 |
CLEANING SUPPLIES CADDY
Abstract
A cleaning supplies caddy for holding a number of cleaning
supplies. The caddy includes a base for supporting the cleaning
supplies and a cover adapted to fit on the base having one or more
cover walls at least partially defining a cover cavity therein in
which the cleaning supplies are receivable. The base includes one
or more base securing elements, and the cover has one or more cover
securing elements, for cooperating with the base securing
element(s) to secure the base and the cover together.
Inventors: |
Allan; Scott W.; (Kitchener,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VALENTINE A COTTRILL;SUSAN TANDAN
50 QUEEN STREET NORTH, STE. 1020, P.O. BOX 2248
KITCHENER
ON
N2H6M2
CA
|
Family ID: |
42212033 |
Appl. No.: |
12/627451 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61118502 |
Nov 28, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/372 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/02 20130101; A47L
13/51 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/372 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/28 20060101
B65D085/28 |
Claims
1. A cleaning supplies caddy for holding a plurality of cleaning
supplies, the caddy comprising: a base for supporting the cleaning
supplies; a cover adapted to fit on the base comprising at least
one cover wall at least partially defining a cover cavity therein
in which the cleaning supplies are receivable; the base comprising
at least one base securing element; and the cover comprising at
least one cover securing element, for cooperating with said at
least one base securing element to secure the base and the cover
together.
2. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 1 in which said at
least one cover wall is substantially continuous and additionally
defines a support region for supporting the cover in an inverted
position such that, when removed from the base, the cover is
positionable on the support region to contain a liquid in the cover
cavity.
3. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 2 in which the
support region comprises a main surface and a plurality of buttons
protruding therefrom for supporting the cover, when the cover is
inverted.
4. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 1 in which: the
base and the cover both extend between first and second ends
thereof respectively; cover securing elements are positioned at
each of the first and second ends of the cover respectively; and
base securing elements are positioned at the first and second ends
of the base for cooperation with the cover securing elements
respectively.
5. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 1 in which: the
base comprises at least one first aperture; the cover comprises at
least one second aperture positioned to register with said at least
one first aperture when the cover is secured to the base; and the
caddy additionally comprises a locking element at least partially
positionable in said at least one first aperture and said at least
one second aperture when the cover is secured to the base, to
permit the locking element to lock the base and the cover
together.
6. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 1 additionally
comprising at least one label for providing point of purchase
information.
7. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 1 in which the base
additionally comprises: at least one base wall at least partially
defining a base cavity; and a plurality of interior walls connected
with said at least one base wall, the interior walls at least
partially extending into the base cavity to define a plurality of
compartments in which the cleaning supplies are respectively
receivable.
8. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 1 additionally
comprising: a latch element mounted on selected one of said at
least one cover securing element and said at least one base
securing element movable between an engaged position, in which the
latch element engages the other of said at least one cover securing
element and said at least one base securing element to connect the
base and the cover together, and a disengaged position, in which
the latch element and the other of said at least one cover securing
element and said at least one base securing element are disengaged
from each other to permit removal of the cover from the base.
9. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 8 in which: the
latch element comprises a tab with a mating surface thereon; the
other of said at least one cover securing element and said at least
one base securing element comprises a lip; when the cover is
mounted on the base, the tab is movable to an engaged condition in
which the mating surface is engaged with the lip, to connect the
cover and the base together; and the tab is movable between the
engaged condition and a disengaged condition, in which the mating
surface and the lip are disengaged to permit removal of the cover
from the base.
10. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 1 in which the
cover is at least partially non-opaque, to permit at least partial
observation of the cover cavity.
11. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 1 in which: the
base and the cover both extend between first and second ends
respectively; the cleaning supplies caddy additionally comprises a
handle, the handle comprising an elongate body portion extending
between first and second ends thereof; cover securing elements are
positioned at the first and second ends of the cover, and base
securing elements are positioned on the base at the first and
second ends thereof for cooperation with the cover securing
elements when the cover is on the base; the handle includes
mounting elements positioned at the first and second ends of the
body portion, for securing the first and second ends of the body
portion to the cover securing elements at the first and second ends
of the cover respectively; and when the cover is on the base, the
body portion is movable between a locked condition, in which latch
elements disposed at each of the first and second ends of the body
portion engage the base securing elements at the first and second
ends of the base respectively, to hold the cover securing element
and the base securing element together at each said end
respectively for securing the cover and the base together, and an
unlocked condition, in which the latch elements are disengaged from
the base securing elements respectively, to permit removal of the
cover from the base.
12. A cleaning supplies caddy for holding a plurality of cleaning
supplies, the caddy comprising: a base for supporting the cleaning
supplies; a cover adapted to fit on the base comprising at least
one cover wall at least partially defining a cover cavity therein
in which the cleaning supplies are receivable; the base comprising
at least one base securing element; the cover comprising at least
one cover securing element, for cooperating with said at least one
base securing element to secure the base and the cover together;
and said at least one cover wall being substantially continuous and
additionally defining a support region for supporting the cover in
an inverted position such that, when removed from the base, the
cover is positionable on the support region to contain a liquid in
the cover cavity.
13. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 12 in which the
support region comprises a main surface and a plurality of buttons
protruding therefrom for supporting the cover, when the cover is
inverted.
14. A cleaning supplies caddy comprising: a plurality of cleaning
supplies; a base for supporting the cleaning supplies; a cover
adapted to fit on the base comprising at least one cover wall at
least partially defining a cover cavity therein, the cleaning
supplies being receivable in the cover cavity; the base comprising
at least one base securing element; and the cover comprising at
least one cover securing element, for cooperating with said at
least one base securing element to secure the base and the cover
together.
15. A cleaning supplies caddy for holding a plurality of cleaning
supplies, the caddy comprising: a base comprising at least one base
wall defining a base cavity therein, the base extending between
first and second ends thereof; a cover adapted to fit on the base
comprising at least one cover wall defining a cover cavity therein,
the cover extending between first and second ends thereof, and the
base cavity and the cover cavity being in communication when the
cover is on the base such that the cleaning supplies are receivable
therein; the base comprising base securing elements positioned at
the first and second ends of the base respectively; the cover
comprising cover securing elements positioned at the first and
second ends of the cover respectively; a handle comprising: an
elongate body portion extending between first and second ends
thereof; mounting elements positioned at the first and second ends
respectively of the body portion, for securing the first and second
ends of the body portion to the respective cover securing elements;
the body portion comprising latch elements at the first and second
ends thereof respectively; and when the cover is on the base, the
body portion is movable between a locked condition, in which the
latch elements disposed at each of the first and second ends of the
body portion engage the base securing elements at the first and
second ends of the base respectively, to hold the cover securing
elements and the base securing elements together for securing the
cover and the base together, and an unlocked condition, in which
the latch elements are disengaged from the base securing elements,
to permit removal of the cover from the base.
16. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 15 in which: the
base comprises at least one first aperture; the cover comprises at
least one second aperture positioned to register with said at least
one first aperture when the cover is mounted on the base; and the
caddy additionally comprises a locking element at least partially
positionable in said at least one first aperture and said at least
one second aperture when the cover is mounted on the base, to
permit the locking element to lock the base and the cover
together.
17. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 15 in which the
base additionally comprises a plurality of interior walls connected
with said at least one base wall, the interior walls at least
partially extending into the base cavity to define a plurality of
compartments in which the cleaning supplies are respectively
receivable.
18. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 15 in which the
cover is at least partially non-opaque, to permit at least partial
observation of the base cavity and the lower cavity when the cover
is mounted on the base.
19. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 18 in which the
base additionally comprises a plurality of interior walls connected
with said at least one base wall, the interior walls at least
partially extending into the base cavity to define a plurality of
compartments in which the cleaning supplies are respectively
receivable.
20. A cleaning supplies caddy according to claim 19 additionally
comprising at least one label for providing point of purchase
information.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/118,502, filed on Nov. 28, 2008, the
entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is a cleaning supplies caddy for
holding a number of cleaning supplies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Caddies for storing and transporting cleaning supplies are
well known in the art. However, the known cleaning supplies caddies
have some disadvantages.
[0004] For instance, when the prior art caddy is temporarily left
unattended or is not in use, the cleaning supplies positioned
therein are readily available to anyone. This is undesirable
because, among other things, the cleaning supplies typically
include materials which are potentially harmful to human beings
(e.g., poisonous if ingested), and those such as children who may
unintentionally harm themselves or others with such materials
should not have access to such materials.
[0005] In addition, the known cleaning supplies caddy typically is
not suitable for marketing the caddy as a part of a kit, e.g., a
cleaning kit including the caddy and cleaning supplies therein. In
the prior art, such a cleaning kit typically is required to be
packaged in various packaging materials, resulting in significant
waste when the packaging is discarded and also adding to the cost
of the kit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a cleaning
supplies caddy that addresses or at least mitigates one or more of
the disadvantages of the prior art.
[0007] In its broad aspect, the invention provides a cleaning
supplies caddy for holding a number of cleaning supplies. The caddy
includes a base for supporting the cleaning supplies, and a cover
adapted to fit on the base having one or more cover walls at least
partially defining a cover cavity therein in which the cleaning
supplies are receivable. The base includes one or more base
securing elements, and the cover has one or more cover securing
elements, for cooperating with the base securing element(s) to
secure the base and the cover together.
[0008] In another aspect, the cover wall is substantially
continuous and additionally defines a support region for supporting
the cover in an inverted position so that, when removed from the
base, the cover is positionable on the support region to contain a
liquid in the cover cavity.
[0009] In yet another aspect, the support region has a main surface
and a number of buttons protruding therefrom for supporting the
cover, when the cover is inverted.
[0010] In one embodiment, the cleaning supplies caddy of the
invention preferably includes one or more labels for providing
point of purchase information.
[0011] In yet another aspect, the cover is at least partially
non-opaque, to permit at least partial observation of the cover
cavity.
[0012] In accordance with another broad aspect of the invention,
the cleaning supplies caddy includes a number of cleaning supplies,
a base for supporting the cleaning supplies, and a cover adapted to
fit on the base having one or more cover walls at least partially
defining a cover cavity therein, the cleaning supplies being
receivable in the cover cavity. The base has one or more base
securing elements, and the cover includes one or more cover
securing elements, for cooperating with the base securing
element(s) to secure the base and the cover together.
[0013] In accordance with another broad aspect of the invention,
the base includes base securing elements positioned at the first
and second ends of the base respectively, and the cover includes
cover securing elements positioned at the first and second ends of
the cover respectively. The cleaning supplies caddy preferably also
includes a handle having an elongate body portion extending between
first and second ends thereof, and mounting elements positioned at
the first and second ends respectively of the body portion, for
securing the first and second ends of the body portion to the
respective cover securing elements. The body portion also includes
latch elements at the first and second ends thereof respectively.
When the cover is on the base, the body portion is movable between
a locked condition, in which the latch elements disposed at each of
the first and second ends of the body portion engage the base
securing elements at the first and second ends of the base
respectively, to hold the cover securing elements and the base
securing elements together for securing the cover and the base
together, and an unlocked condition, in which the latch elements
are disengaged from the base securing elements, to permit removal
of the cover from the base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The invention will be better understood with reference to
the attached drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1a is an exploded isometric view of an embodiment of a
cleaning supplies caddy of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 1b is an exploded isometric view of an alternative
embodiment of the cleaning supplies caddy of the invention, drawn
at a smaller scale;
[0017] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the caddy of FIG. 1a in which
a cover is positioned on a base thereof, drawn at a larger
scale;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section of the caddy of FIG. 2
showing a cover securing element and a base securing element
engaged with each other, drawn at a larger scale;
[0019] FIG. 4a is an isometric view of the cover of FIGS. 1a and 2
in an inverted position, in which water is held in the cover;
[0020] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of
the cleaning supplies caddy of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 6a is a partial cross-section of the cover securing
element and the base securing element of FIG. 3 in which the
elements are engaged, drawn at a larger scale;
[0022] FIG. 6b is a partial cross-section of the cover securing
element and the base securing element of FIG. 6a in which the
elements are disengaged;
[0023] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a portion of the cleaning
supplies caddy of FIG. 5 in which a locking element is positioned
in aligned apertures in the cover and the base, drawn at a smaller
scale;
[0024] FIG. 8a is an isometric view of another alternative
embodiment of the cleaning supplies caddy of the invention, drawn
at a smaller scale;
[0025] FIG. 8b is a side view of the cleaning supplies caddy of
FIG. 8a;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-section of a portion of the caddy
of FIG. 8a, drawn at a smaller scale;
[0027] FIG. 10 is an end view of the caddy of FIG. 8a with a handle
thereof in a locked condition, drawn at a smaller scale;
[0028] FIG. 11 is an end view of the caddy of FIG. 8a with the
handle in an unlocked condition;
[0029] FIG. 12 is a side view of a portion of the handle in the
unlocked condition, drawn at a larger scale; and
[0030] FIG. 13 is a side view of a portion of the handle in the
locked condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Reference is first made to FIGS. 1a-4b and FIGS. 6a-7 to
describe an embodiment of a cleaning supplies caddy of the
invention referred to generally by the numeral 5. The cleaning
supplies caddy 5 is for holding a number of cleaning supplies 8
(FIG. 4a), as will be described. The caddy 5 preferably includes a
base 10 for supporting the cleaning supplies 8, and a cover 15
adapted to fit on the base 10 with one or more cover walls 16 at
least partially defining a cover cavity 17 therein (FIG. 3) in
which the cleaning supplies are receivable. Preferably, the base 10
includes one or more base securing elements 22. Also, the cover 15
preferably includes one or more cover securing elements 24, for
cooperating with the base securing element(s) 22 to secure the base
10 and the cover 15 together (FIG. 3).
[0032] As shown in FIG. 4a, upon removal of the cover 15 from the
base 10, the user has access to the cleaning supplies 8. In one
embodiment, the cover wall 16 preferably is substantially
continuous and additionally defines a support region 25 for
supporting the cover 15 in an inverted position (FIG. 4b) so that,
when removed from the base 10, the cover 15 is positionable on the
support region 25 to contain a liquid 61 in the cover cavity 14.
Accordingly, and as can be seen in FIG. 4b, after the cover 15 is
removed from the base 10, and upon inverting the cover 15, water 61
(and/or another cleaning agent as desired) may be held in the
inverted cover 15. Accordingly, the water 61 (and/or another
cleaning agent) may then be used for cleaning purposes, with or
without additives (e.g., soap). It is preferred that the cover 15
also includes a spout element 31 (FIG. 1a), to facilitate control
of the liquid 61 when it is poured from the inverted cover 15.
[0033] Preferably, the support region 25 includes a main surface 76
and a number of buttons 64 protruding therefrom for supporting the
cover 10, when the cover 10 is inverted. The main surface 76
preferably is substantially planar and the buttons 64 preferably
each protrude from the main surface 76 by approximately the same
distance, so that the inverted cover 15 is stable when located on a
substantially flat surface. Retailers and wholesalers of the caddy
5 may wish to stack a number of the caddies 5, e.g., in a retail
display, and the buttons 64 may also be used in that regard. The
buttons 64 preferably are positioned for alignment with
indentations (not shown) in the base 10 in which the buttons 64 are
respectively receivable, for stacking.
[0034] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, in one embodiment, the base
10 and the cover 15 both extend between first and second ends
thereof 36, 37, 38, 39 respectively. Preferably, cover securing
elements 24 are positioned at each of the first and second ends 38,
39 of the cover 15 respectively and base securing elements 22 are
positioned at the first and second ends 36, 37 of the base 10 for
cooperation with the cover securing elements 24 respectively.
[0035] In one embodiment, the base 10 preferably includes one or
more first apertures 70 and the cover 15 includes one or more
corresponding second apertures 72 (FIG. 1a) positioned to register
with the first apertures 70 respectively, when the cover 15 is
mounted on the base 10. Preferably, the caddy 5 also includes a
locking element 68 which is at least partially positionable in a
selected pair of the first and second apertures when the cover 15
is mounted on the base 10, to permit the locking element 68 to lock
the base 10 and the cover 15 together (FIG. 7). The locking element
is any suitable means for locking the cover and the base together
when the cover is mounted on the base, to prevent unauthorized
access therein.
[0036] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it
may be desirable to lock the cover 15 and the base 10 together for
a variety of purposes, and in different contexts. For instance, the
cleaning supplies caddy 5 may be offered for sale (i.e., at retail)
with cleaning supplies 8 therein. The cleaning supplies may be, for
example, intended for a specific purpose (i.e., cleaning an
automobile, or dishwashing while camping) or they may be intended
for general household use. When the caddy with the cleaning
supplies therein is offered for sale, the retailer may prefer to
have the base and the cover locked together with a suitable locking
element 68 such as a cable tie lock, to prevent theft of cleaning
supplies while the caddy is displayed.
[0037] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the user
may also wish to lock the base and the cover, e.g., to prevent
unauthorized access to the cleaning supplies in the home. Users may
wish to employ varying degrees of security, e.g., "child resistant"
to "child proof". For instance, the user may wish to prevent a
small child from having access to the cleaning supplies, or the
user may wish to prevent an older child from having such access.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any suitable locking
element 68 may be used to lock the base and the cover together.
Also, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, depending on
the circumstances, the cover and the base may include as many
alignable pairs of apertures spaced apart from each other, with
locking elements 68 positioned therein, as are desirable in the
circumstances. It is anticipated that, in most cases, only one pair
of such apertures is sufficient.
[0038] As can be seen, for example, in FIG. 2, the cleaning
supplies caddy 5 preferably also includes one or more labels 62 for
providing point of purchase information. Those skilled in the art
will appreciate that such information is generally required or
customarily provided with products offered for sale at retail. As
can be seen in FIG. 2, due to the labels 62, the cleaning caddy 5
may be sold at retail without additional packaging. This has the
beneficial result that the caddy 5 does not include packaging that
ultimately is discarded. In this way, the caddy 5 is designed to
minimize waste.
[0039] Preferably, the base 10 additionally includes one or more
base walls 13 at least partially defining a base cavity 14, and a
number of interior walls 26 connected with the base wall 13. The
interior walls 26 at least partially extend into the base cavity 14
to define a number of compartments 74 in which the cleaning
supplies 8 are respectively receivable. The compartments 74
preferably are configured for receiving predetermined cleaning
supplies. Examples of typical cleaning supplies 8 are shown in FIG.
4a positioned in different compartments respectively, e.g., a
bottle 50, a spray bottle 52, a cloth 54, a brush 56, and a jar
container 58.
[0040] Preferably, the caddy 5 also includes a latch element 28
mounted on a selected one of the cover securing element 24 and the
base securing element 22 movable between an engaged position (FIGS.
3 and 6a), in which the latch element 28 engages the other of the
cover securing element 24 and the base securing element 22 to
connect the base 10 and the cover 15 together, and a disengaged
position (FIG. 6b), in which the latch element 28 and the other of
the cover and base securing elements 24, 22 are disengaged from
each other to permit removal of the cover 15 from the base 10.
[0041] In one embodiment, the latch element 28 includes a tab 42
with a mating surface 32 thereon and the other of the cover
securing element 24 and the base securing element 22 includes a lip
34 (FIG. 6b). Preferably, the tab 42 is biased to an engaged
condition (FIG. 3, FIG. 6a) in which the mating surface 32 is
engaged with the lip 34 when the cover 15 is mounted on the base
10, to connect the cover 15 and the base 10 together. The tab 42
preferably is movable between the engaged condition and a
disengaged condition (FIG. 6b), in which the mating surface 32 and
the lip 34 are disengaged to permit removal of the cover 15 from
the base 10.
[0042] In one embodiment, the tab 42 of the latch element 28 is
mounted on the cover securing element 24, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4b,
6a, and 6b. The tab 42 is shown in the disengaged condition in FIG.
6b, i.e., the lip 34 and the mating surface 32 are illustrated in
the disengaged condition in that drawing.
[0043] As can be seen in FIGS. 6a and 6b, when the cover is pushed
downwardly into the base, the tab 42 moves to the engaged condition
(i.e., in the direction indicated by arrow "A" in FIG. 6a) until
the mating surface 32 is fully engaged with the lip 34 on the base
securing element 22. Such movement preferably takes place because
the tab 42 is biased accordingly. It will be understood that the
mating surface 32 and the lip 34 engage each other in a snap fit
when the latch element 28 is in the engaged condition. To move the
tab 42 from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition, the
tab 42 is moved outwardly (i.e., in the direction indicated by
arrow "B" in FIG. 6b), to move the mating surface 32 away from the
lip 34 to disengage the mating surface 32 and the lip 34. Those
skilled in the art will appreciate that, alternatively, the latch
element 28 may be mounted on the base securing element, and the lip
34 may be positioned on the cover securing element (not shown).
[0044] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
caddy 5 may be made of any suitable material or materials. For
example, a suitable material is a plastic polymer. The base and/or
the cover may be formed with a number of additional features. For
instance, the base preferably includes a channel 34 integrally
formed in the base 10 (FIG. 2). The channel 34 is formed to
accommodate a user's hands (not shown), to enable the user to lift
the caddy easily.
[0045] As can be seen in FIGS. 1a, 2, and 3, the cover wall 16
preferably includes end walls 33 defining the first and second ends
38, 39 of the cover 15. Preferably, the end walls 33 each include a
main portion 40 connected to the main surface 76 and an indented
portion 41 which is indented relative to the main portion 40, to
define a space 43 in which the user's fingers (not shown) may
engage the cover securing element 24 when the cover 15 is inverted.
In this way, the cover securing elements 24 may also be used as
handles when the cover 15 is inverted.
[0046] In use, the caddy 5 may be closed (i.e., the cover is
mounted on the base and the latch element engaged) and locked, for
instance, by positioning the locking element 68 through the first
and second apertures, as shown in FIG. 7. In one embodiment, and as
shown in FIGS. 1a-4a, the cleaning supplies caddy 5 preferably
includes the cleaning supplies 8 and is offered for sale including
the cleaning supplies. As described above, when the caddy is
displayed for retail sale with cleaning supplies therein, the cover
and the base preferably are locked together.
[0047] After purchase, when the user wishes to obtain access to the
cleaning supplies in the caddy, the locking element(s) 68 is
unlocked and the cover is removed from the base. Once the cover is
removed, the user has access to the cleaning supplies 8. Also, the
removed cover may be inverted, and used as a pail. After use, the
cleaning supplies are positioned on the base, and the cover is
replaced on the base. The user may also lock the cover and the base
together, also as described above.
[0048] As noted above, the cleaning supplies caddy may be sold with
cleaning supplies in it for specific purposes. The caddy will not
open easily (i.e., the cover is not easily removed from the base),
and this has the added benefit that the cleaning supplies are
contained inside the cover and the base if the cleaning supplies
caddy falls over or is overturned, limiting the extent to which the
spilled cleaning supplies spread.
[0049] An alternative embodiment of the cleaning supplies caddy 305
is illustrated in FIG. 1b. The caddy 305 preferably includes a base
310 and a cover 315 adapted to fit on the base 310. It is preferred
that the base 310 includes a base securing element 322, and the
cover 315 includes a cover securing element 324 for cooperating
with the base securing element 322 to secure the cover 315 and the
base 310 together. For instance, as shown in FIG. 1b, the base
securing element 322 and the cover securing element 324 are adapted
to be threadably engaged with each other.
[0050] The base 310 preferably includes a frame 327 in which the
cleaning supplies 8 are positionable. Preferably, the frame 327
defines openings 329 in which the elements or parts of the cleaning
supplies 8 are respectively receivable. As can be seen in FIG. 1b,
after the elements or parts of the cleaning supplies 8 are
positioned in the openings 329, the cover 315 may be positioned on
the base 310 and the cleaning supplies 8 received in a cover cavity
(not shown in FIG. 1b) defined by the cover 315.
[0051] Additional embodiments of the invention are shown in FIGS. 5
and 8a-13. In FIGS. 5 and 8a-13, elements are numbered so as to
correspond to like elements shown in FIGS. 1a-4b and FIGS.
6a-7.
[0052] In another embodiment, a cleaning supplies caddy 105
includes a cover 115 which is at least partially non-opaque, to
permit at least partial observation of the cover cavity 117 (FIG.
5). Preferably, the non-opaque cover 115 is any material which is
not opaque, and thus permits a user to see the contents of the
caddy 105 without having to open or remove the cover 115 from the
base 110. For instance, the non-opaque material may be a
substantially transparent cover which is made of any suitably
durable plastic. Alternatively, the cover may be at least partially
made of substantially translucent material. This feature is useful
both for retailing purposes (i.e., to enable the prospective
purchaser to see the cleaning supplies which are to be sold with
the caddy) and in use, e.g., to enable the user to confirm that the
desired cleaning supplies are in the caddy. In addition, when the
cover 115 is used as a pail, the user can quickly determine whether
water 61 in the inverted cover has become sufficiently dirty that
it should be replaced.
[0053] Preferably, the base 110 includes a number of interior walls
126 connected with the base wall 113. The interior walls 126 at
least partially extend into the base cavity 114 to define a number
of compartments 174 in which the cleaning supplies 8 are
respectively receivable. It is also preferred that the caddy 105
includes one or more labels 162 positioned on the base 110 for
providing point of purchase information. It will be understood
that, alternatively, some or all of the labels 162 may be located
on the cover 115.
[0054] In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 8a-13, a cleaning
supplies caddy 205 preferably includes a base 210 and a cover 215
extending between first and second ends 236, 237, 238, 239
respectively. Preferably, the caddy 205 also includes a handle 280
with an elongate body portion 282 extending between first and
second ends 284, 286 thereof (FIGS. 8a, 8b). In addition, cover
securing elements 224 preferably are positioned at the first and
second ends 238, 239 of the cover 215, and base securing elements
222 are positioned on the base 210 at the first and second ends
236, 237 thereof for cooperation with the cover securing elements
224 when the cover 215 is mounted on the base 210 (FIGS. 9, 12,
13). The handle 280 also preferably includes mounting elements 290
positioned at the first and second ends 284, 286 of the body
portion 282, for securing the first and second ends 284, 286 of the
body portion 282 to the cover securing elements 224 at the first
and second ends 238, 239 of the cover 215 respectively (FIGS. 8a,
8b). Preferably, the mounting elements 290 engage the cover
securing elements 224 so as to secure the first and second ends
284, 286 of the body portion 282 to the cover securing elements
224, however, the mounting elements 290 permit the body portion 282
to rotate relative to the cover securing elements 224 while
remaining engaged therewith.
[0055] When the cover is mounted on the base, the body portion 282
preferably is movable between a locked condition (FIGS. 10, 13), in
which latch elements 228 disposed at each of the first and second
ends 284, 286 of the body portion 282 engage the base securing
elements 222 at the first and second ends 236, 237 of the base 210
respectively, to hold the cover securing element 224 and the base
securing element 222 together at each end respectively to secure
the cover 215 and the base 210 together, and an unlocked condition
(FIGS. 11, 12), in which the latch elements 228 are disengaged from
the base securing elements respectively, to permit removal of the
cover 215 from the base 210. It will be understood that, to
simplify the illustrations, the cover and base securing elements
224, 222 and the latch element 228 at only one end of the caddy 205
are shown in FIGS. 9, 12, and 13. The cover and base securing
elements 224, 222 and the latch element 228 are the same at each
end of the caddy.
[0056] As can be seen in FIGS. 9, 12, and 13, the cover and base
securing elements 224, 222 each define grooves 292, 293 therein in
which lip elements 294, 296 of the latch element 228 are
receivable. In FIG. 13, it can be seen that, when the body portion
is located at the 12 o'clock position, the lip elements 294, 296
are engaged in the grooves 292, 293, thereby holding the cover 215
and the base 210 together. However, the grooves 292, 293 do not
extend 360.degree., i.e., they are truncated to define gaps 298,
299 into which the lip elements 294, 296 are moved when the body
portion 282 is pivoted to the 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock positions
(FIG. 12). In these circumstances, the lip elements 294, 296 do not
engage either the cover securing element 224 or the base securing
element 222, and the cover 215 and the base 210 are disengagable
from each other.
[0057] As can be seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, the cover and base
securing elements 224, 222 preferably include detents 297 which
hold the body portion 282 in the 6 o'clock position or, if
preferred, in the 12 o'clock position (FIG. 10). For instance, as
indicated above, the cover (after removal from the base) may be
inverted and used as a bucket. In that situation, the handle 280
may be used if the body portion is moved to the six o'clock
position. In these circumstances, the detents 297 serve to hold the
body portion 282 in the 6 o'clock position, with the result that
the cover is more conveniently usable as a bucket, as the detents
hold the body portion 282 in position.
[0058] As can be seen in FIGS. 8-13, the handle 280 provides a
number of additional advantages. First, when the handle 280 is in
the locked condition, the caddy 205 is easily carried by the user.
Also, the handle 280 provides an easy way to determine whether the
cover 215 and the base 210 are locked together, e.g., before the
user attempts to lift the caddy.
[0059] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
invention can take many forms, and that such forms are within the
scope of the invention as described above. The foregoing
descriptions are exemplary and their scope should not be limited to
the preferred versions contained herein.
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