U.S. patent application number 13/416455 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-09 for surface cleaner.
Invention is credited to Herbert Goetz, Michael J. Hilger, Mark Payne.
Application Number | 20120198645 13/416455 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42629593 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120198645 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hilger; Michael J. ; et
al. |
August 9, 2012 |
SURFACE CLEANER
Abstract
A surface cleaner and a method for using the surface cleaner are
disclosed. The surface cleaner comprises a cleaner body with a lid,
a hand gripping post and a thumb rest, The cleaning may be
performed by a pad attached to the bottom of the cleaner body.
Alternatively a sheet, such as a cloth or a paper towel, folded
into the inside of the surface cleaner may be used. To hold the
surface cleaner, the hand gripping post is inserted between the
middle and ring fingers and the thumb is rested on the thumb
rest.
Inventors: |
Hilger; Michael J.; (Green
Bay, WI) ; Payne; Mark; (Neenah, WI) ; Goetz;
Herbert; (Neenah, WI) |
Family ID: |
42629593 |
Appl. No.: |
13/416455 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12391112 |
Feb 23, 2009 |
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13416455 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/222 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 13/42 20130101;
A47L 13/10 20130101; A47L 13/44 20130101; Y10T 29/49826
20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/222 |
International
Class: |
A47L 13/16 20060101
A47L013/16 |
Claims
1. A surface cleaner comprising: a planer cleaner body having a
first side and a second side, wherein the first and second sides
are provided on opposite sides of the cleaner body; a pad coupled
to the second side of the cleaner body; a Planar lid coupled to the
cleaner body by a hinge, the lid having a first side and a second
side, wherein the first and second sides are provided on opposite
sides of the lid; a gripping assembly coupled to the first side of
the lid, the gripping assembly having a post connected to a thumb
rest, the post having a variable radius wherein the radius of the
post is greater in a first direction than the radius of the post in
a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a
latch assembly which selectively engages the cleaner body to the
lid, wherein the first side of the cleaner body engages the second
side of the lid.
2. The surface cleaner of claim 1, wherein the latch assembly
includes a latch lock which selectively receives a latch clamp.
3. The surface cleaner of claim 2, wherein the latch lock is
provided on the first side of the cleaner body and the latch clamp
is provided on the second side of the lid.
4. The surface cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a sheet
support tab provided on an edge of the first side of the cleaner
body.
5. The surface cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a first sheet
support tab and a second sheet support tab provided on a first side
of the cleaner body, wherein the first sheet support tab is
provided on a first edge of the cleaner body and the second sheet
support tab is provided on a second edge of the cleaner body.
6. The surface cleaner of claim 5, wherein the first edge of the
cleaner body is parallel to the second edge of the cleaner
body.
7. The surface cleaner of claim 6, wherein the distance between the
first and second. sheet support tabs is greater than a width of the
lid, such that when the lid engages the cleaner body, the lid is
received between the first and second sheet support tabs.
8. The surface cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a sheet
locking assembly adapted to retain a cleaning sheet, the sheet
locking assembly having a first locking portion provided on the
first side of the cleaner body and a second locking portion
provided on the second side of the lid, wherein the first and
second locking portions engage to retain a cleaning sheet.
9. The surface cleaner of claim 8, wherein the first locking
portion is a locking strip and the second locking portion is a
locking groove, the locking groove is adapted to receive the
locking strip.
10. A surface cleaner comprising: a cleaner body having a first
side, a second side, a first edge, and a second edge, wherein the
first and second sides are provided on opposite sides of the
cleaner body, and the first edge is provided parallel to the second
edge; a pad coupled to the second side of the cleaner body; a lid
connected to the cleaner body by a hinge, the lid having a first
side and a second side, wherein the first and second sides are
provided on opposite sides of the lid; a gripping assembly coupled
to the first side of the lid, the gripping assembly having a post
connected to a thumb rest, the post having a variable radius
wherein the radius of the post is greater in a first direction than
the radius of the post in a second direction perpendicular to the
first direction; and a cleaning sheet coupled to the surface
cleaner, the cleaning sheet having a first edge opposite a second
edge, wherein the cleaning sheet is provided about the pad and the
first and second edges are retained between the first side of the
cleaner body and the second side of the lid.
11. The surface cleaner of claim 10, further comprising a latch
assembly which selectively engages the cleaner body to the lid,
wherein the first side of the cleaner body engages the second side
of the lid.
12. The surface cleaner of claim 10, further comprising a first
sheet support tab and a second sheet support tab provided on the
first side of the cleaner body, wherein the distance between the
first and second sheet support tabs is greater than a width of the
lid, such that when the lid engages the cleaner body, the lid is
received between the first and second sheet support tabs.
13. The surface cleaner of claim 12, wherein the first sheet
support tab is provided along the first edge of the cleaner body,
and the second sheet support tab is provided along the second edge
of the cleaner body.
14. The surface cleaner of claim 10, further comprising a cleaning
sheet locking assembly having a first locking portion provided on
the first side of the cleaner body and a second locking portion
provided on the second side of the lid, wherein a portion of the
cleaning sheet is retained between the engagement of the first
locking portion and second locking portion.
15. The surface cleaner of claim 10, further comprising a cleaning
sheet locking assembly having a first locking portion and a second
locking portion provided on the first side of the cleaner body and
a third locking portion and a fourth locking portion provided on
the second side of the lid, wherein a first portion of the cleaning
sheet is retained between the engagement of the first locking
portion and the third locking portion, and a second portion of the
cleaning sheet is retained between the engagement of the second
locking portion and the fourth locking portion.
16. The surface cleaner of claim 15, wherein the first locking
portion is parallel to the second locking portion, and the third
locking portion is parallel to the fourth locking portion.
17. The surface cleaner of claim 10, further comprising: a first
sheet locking strip and a second sheet locking strip provided on
the first side of the cleaner body; and a first sheet locking
groove and a second sheet locking groove provided on the second
side of the lid, wherein a first portion of the cleaning sheet is
retained between the engagement of the first sheet locking strip
and the first sheet locking groove, and a second portion of the
cleaning sheet is retained between the engagement of the second
sheet locking strip and the second sheet locking groove.
18. The surface cleaner of claim 17, wherein the first sheet
locking strip is parallel to the second sheet locking strip, and
the first sheet locking groove is parallel to the second sheet
locking groove.
19. A surface cleaner comprising: a cleaner body having a first
side, a second side, a first edge, and a second edge, wherein the
first and second sides are provided on opposite sides of the
cleaner body, and the first edge is provided parallel to the second
edge; a pad connected to the second side of the cleaner body; a lid
hingedly connected to the cleaner body, the lid having a first side
and a second side, wherein the first and second sides are provided
on opposite sides of the lid; and a gripping assembly coupled to
the first side of the lid, the gripping assembly having a post
connected to a thumb rest, the post having a variable radius
wherein the radius of the post is greater in a first direction than
the radius of the post in a second direction perpendicular to the
first direction such that the post is adapted to be received
between the fingers of a user.
20. The surface cleaner of claim 19, further comprising: a first
sheet support tab provided on the first side of the cleaner body
along the first edge; a second sheet support tab provided on the
first side of the cleaner body along the second edge, wherein a
first distance extends between the first and second sheet support
tabs, and the lid has a width which is less than the first
distance; and a latch assembly which selectively engages the
cleaner body to the lid, wherein the first side of the cleaner body
engages the second side of the lid such that the lid is received
between the first sheet support tab and the second sheet support
tab.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority as a continuation
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/391,112, filed
Feb. 23, 2009, entitled SURFACE CLEANER, the content of which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a hand held
surface cleaner and a method for cleaning a surface with the
surface cleaner. The surfaces on which the cleaner may be used for
removing dirt and stains may include but not limited to windows,
furniture, household walls, bathtubs, tile and metal, and made of
materials including but not limited to glass, metal, ceramic,
plastic, Formica.RTM., cement and wood. In order to clean quickly
and efficiently, it is desirable to provide a comfortable yet tight
gripping feature and the flexibility of moving and turning the
wiper in all directions of x, y, and z planes. Having the option of
using either or both a rough surface for scrubbing and an easy to
change disposable sheet for wiping would also be desirable.
Additionally, having the option of dry or wet cleaning, achievable
by soaking the cleaning surface in water or in a cleaning solution,
is likewise desirable. These features are not present in the prior
art references. Thus there is a need for an improved hand held
surface wiper that would include these features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In one aspect of the present invention, a surface cleaner
comprises a cleaner body having an inner surface, a bottom surface,
a front side, a back side and lateral sides; a lid having an inner
surface, a top surface, a front side and a back side, the lid being
hingedly connected to the cleaner body; a pad attached to the
bottom surface of the cleaner body; a hand gripping post attached
to the top surface of the lid; and a thumb rest member attached to
the hand gripping member.
[0004] In another aspect of the present invention, a method for
cleaning a surface comprises providing the surface cleaner of the
present invention; folding a sheet over the pad and onto the inside
surface of the cleaner body; closing the lid in a manner that
engages the latch; inserting the hand gripping post between two
fingers; and placing a thumb on the thumb rest.
[0005] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top, side and front perspective of a closed
surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is the top, side and front perspective view of the
closed surface cleaner of FIG. 1 containing a cleaner sheet
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a closed surface cleaner
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 4 is the front elevation view of the closed surface
cleaner of FIG. 3 containing a cleaner sheet according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a closed surface cleaner
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 6 is the side elevation view of the closed surface
cleaner of FIG. 5 containing a cleaner sheet according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a bottom, side and front perspective view of a
closed surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view of a closed surface cleaner
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 9 is a top, side and front perspective view of an open
surface cleaner according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 10 is a top, side and front perspective view of an open
surface cleaner having a sheet folded inside the cleaner body
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 11 is a top, side and front exploded view of the
cleaner body and the pad according to an embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0017] FIG. 12 is a top, side and front perspective view of a hand
holding position of a closed surface cleaner according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide for a
surface cleaner and for a method of using the cleaner. The cleaner
of the present invention contains a cleaner body, a lid and a
cleaning pad attached to the bottom surface of the cleaner body.
Attachment of the cleaning pad to the bottom of the cleaner body
may be accomplished by the use of an adhesive or by manufacturing
the cleaner body and cleaner pad as one piece. The pad may be made
of foam, an abrasive material such as steel wool, cloth, nonwoven,
plastic or combinations thereof. In some cleaning applications, the
cleaning action may be accomplished by direct contact between the
pad and the target surface. The pad may he used dry, soaked in
water or soaked in a. cleaning solution. In another embodiment of
the present invention, a sheet is placed over the pad and used as
the cleaning medium. The sheet may be made of paper or cloth and
may be used dry, soaked in water or soaked in a cleaning
solution.
[0019] The lid is hingedly connected to the cleaner body. A latch
clamp attached to the front inside part of the lid closes onto a
latch lock member on the inside front part of the cleaner body to
form a closed position for the surface cleaner. A hand gripping
post is attached to the outside of the lid surface, and a thumb
rest is attached onto the hand gripping post. The thumb rest may
have a circular shape, a rectangular or a triangular shape. However
other shapes also fall within the scope of the present
invention.
[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention the cleaning
sheet is folded over the pad and into the inside of the cleaner
body. The lid is then closed to hold the sheet in place. In another
embodiment, at least two locking strips disposed longitudinally and
attached to the inside cleaner body surface, and at least two
locking grooves disposed longitudinally and attached to the inside
surface of the lid are further used to hold the sheet firmly in
place during the cleaning process. Each locking groove is
configured to fit over a locking strip.
[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, sheet support
tabs may be positioned at the sides of the cleaner body. The tabs
support the sheet as it is folded into the inside of the cleaner
body, and help keep it stretched and held in place.
[0022] The surfaces on which the cleaner may be used for removing
dirt and stains may include but not limited to windows, furniture,
household walls, bathtubs, tile and metal, and made of materials
including but not limited to glass, metal, ceramic, plastic,
Formica.RTM., cement and wood.
[0023] To hold the surface cleaner, the hand gripping post may be
inserted between any two fingers with the back of the hand in
contact with the outside part of the lid, and the thumb is placed
on the thumb rest. For most users, the most comfortable position is
likely to be using the middle and ring fingers. This enables the
person performing the cleaning to move the cleaning device in all
directions by a combination of wrist and elbow movement. However,
other finger, hand positions and gripping positions also fall
within the scope of the present invention.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an illustration of the
surface cleaner in a closed position featuring the thumb rest 1,
the hand gripping post 2, the latch clamp 3, the pad 4, and sheet
support tab 5.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a representation of the
surface cleaner in a closed position having sheet 6 folded into the
cleaner featuring the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the
latch clamp 3 and the pad 4.
[0026] FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of the surface cleaner
indicating the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the latch
clamp 3, the pad 4, sheet locking groove 7 and sheet locking strip
8.
[0027] FIG. 4 depicts the embodiment of the surface cleaner in FIG.
3 showing a sheet 6.
[0028] FIG. 5 is an embodiment of the surface cleaner indicating
the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the pad 4, and sheet
support tab 5.
[0029] FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the surface cleaner showing the
thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the pad 4, and sheet 6.
[0030] FIG. 7 represents an embodiment of the surface cleaner
showing the latch clamp 3, the pad 4, and sheet support tab 5.
[0031] FIG. 8 is an embodiment of the surface cleaner indicating
the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the pad 4, and hinge
9.
[0032] FIG. 9 represents an embodiment of the surface cleaner in an
open position showing latch clamp 3, pad 4, sheet support tab 5,
sheet 6, locking groove 7, sheet locking strip 8, lid 10, latch
lock 11, and the inside surface of the cleaner body 12.
[0033] FIG. 10 represents an embodiment of the surface cleaner in
an open position showing latch clamp 3, sheet 6 folded into the
inside of the cleaner body, locking groove 7, lid 10, latch lock
11, and the inside surface of the cleaner body 12.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown an illustration of the
surface cleaner in a closed position featuring the thumb rest 1,
the hand gripping post 2, the latch clamp 3, the pad 4 as a
separate piece, and sheet support tab 5.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 12, there is shown an illustration of the
surface cleaner in a position held by a person's hand 13 featuring
the thumb rest 1, the hand gripping post 2, the latch clamp 3, the
pad 4, and sheet 6.
* * * * *