Cleaning device with squeegee adapter

Abstract

A cleaning device which combines in an integral unit a cleaning or applicator element mounted on an applicator head and a squeegee mounted on a retaining plate which is utilized to hold the applicator element in place on the applicator head. The applicator head further includes a head plate under which the working surface of the applicator element is positioned, the head plate having laterally extending upwardly and inwardly turned lip portions about which flexible side portions of the applicator element are flexed. The longitudinally extending parallel edges of the retaining plate snap fit into place within the lip portions of the head plate so as to engage the flexed portions of the applicator element therebetween. A handle having a lateral arm extends through a transverse slot formed in the retaining plate to be engaged by a journal tube mounted near the center of the head plate. The transverse slot in the retaining plate has a pair of inwardly extending detents which define interior and exterior slot portions of the transverse slot. The detents are positioned in the transverse slot so as to allow substantial freedom of movement of the handle when positioned therethrough during which time the applicator element is normally being used, and further so as to lock the handle in the exterior slot portion while the squeegee element is normally being used.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to handle-equipped implements designed for floor, wall, window, and general dry and wet cleaning of surfaces, and, more particularly, to cleaning devices which are comprised of heads to which cleaning or applicator elements are adapted to be applied and removed, and handles to which the heads are interchangeably connectable.

2. Objects and Summary of the Invention

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device of the general character described above in which a cleaning or applicator element is effectively and simply combined with a squeegee adapter in a unitary applicator head.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combination cleaning device in which in a single unit are provided a cleaning or applicator element and a squeegee element formed as a portion of the means utilized for retaining the applicator element in place on the cleaning head.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a novel and unique combination applicator element and squeegee device which does not necessitate the use of nuts, bolts, screws, or the like, for maintaining the cleaning element and squeegee in their proper positions.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide in combination with a handle held cleaning device which includes a cleaning element and a squeegee element, a new and improved handle positioning means for properly positioning the handle in one of two alternative positions depending on whether the cleaning element of the squeegee element is desired to be utilized.

The foregoing and other objects are achieved in accordance with one aspect of the present invention through the provision of a cleaning device which comprises an applicator head, an applicator element mounted on the head, and a handle pivoted to the head. The applicator head includes a head plate and a retaining plate, while the handle has a lateral arm extending along the head plate and is removably engaged in a journal tube positioned on the head plate. The retaining plate includes a horizontal planar portion having a rear edge which terminates in a channel-shaped slot for holding a squeegee, and an inclined portion angularly extending from the other edge of the planar portion to a front edge of the retaining plate. The head plate comprises a substantially flat longitudinally-elongated plate whose longitudinal edges are each shaped upwardly and inwardly to form parallel lip portions. The applicator element includes a working portion underlying the head plate and front and rear flexible edge portions which are wrapped about the lips of the head plate and are engaged by the front and rear edges of the retaining plate to hold the applicator element in proper position. The retaining plate further includes a transverse slot extending rearwardly of its front edge, the transverse slot having detents extending inwardly therefrom which define interior and exterior slot portions. An inclined arm extends perpendicularly from the lateral arm of the handle through the transverse slot in the retaining plate so as to be selectively positionable on either side of the detents through either the interior or exterior slot portions. The detents are so positioned in the transverse slot so as to allow substantial freedom of movement of the inclined arm of the handle when extending through the interior slot portion, which is the normal position during which the applicator element is utilized. The detents are further positioned so as to lock the inclined arm of the handle within the exterior slot portion of the transverse slot during which time the squeegee element is normally being utilized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description of the present invention when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cleaning device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial side sectional view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1 showing the handle of the cleaning device in a first cleaning position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but in which the handle of the cleaning device is shown in a second cleaning position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the various components comprising the device of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2 showing the handle of the device in its first cleaning position; and

FIG. 6 is a view taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 3 showing the handle of the device in its second cleaning position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, where like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 4 thereof, reference numeral 10 indicates generally the cleaning device of the present invention. Device 10 comprises a head 12 to which a cleaning or applicator element 14 is attached, and a handle 16.

The head 12 comprises a substantially flat, longitudinally elongated plate 22 and a similarly dimensioned retaining member and squeegee adapter 18. Plate 22 has squared ends 24 and is longitudinally terminated in parallel forward and rear edges 26 and 28, respectively. Edges 26 and 28, preferably formed integrally with the flat portion of plate 22, are upwardly and inwardly turned so as to comprise lip portions for a purpose to be described in more detail hereinafter. Centered on the top of plate 22, between the edges 26 and 28, is a longitudinal journal tube 30, having an inner end 32 located at the mid-length point of plate 22.

The retaining member and squeegee adapter 18 includes a horizontal planar portion 34 which at its rear edge 36 is formed in a channel-shaped slot 38 for receiving a squeegee 20. Slot 38 extends upwardly to form a longitudinally extending support wall 40 for squeegee 20. Horizontal planar portion 34 extends to a forward edge 42 from which extends an inclined portion 44 to the forward longitudinal edge 46 of retaining member 18. Retaining member 18 may be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic, and the bend at the edge 42 imparts a spring-like resiliency to the retaining member for a purpose which will become more clear hereinafter.

Retaining member 18 further includes a transverse slot 48 which extends rearwardly of forward edge 46 to its closed rear end 50 which is formed in horizontal planar portion 34. The adjacent edge 52 of slot 48 is preferably in line with the inner end 32 of tube 30 formed in plate 22.

Transverse slot 48 has formed on the inner walls thereof a pair of inwardly extending retaining detents 54 which define an interior slot 56 and an exterior slot 58, for purposes to become more clear hereinafter.

The cleaning or applicator element 14 is seen to include a main working portion 60 which msy be a plastic sponge, or the like, having longitudinally disposed on either side thereof a flexible rear edge portion 62 and a flexible front edge portion 64. As seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the flexible front and rear edge portions 64 and 62, with the main working portion 60 stretched, are simply brought up and around over the front and rear lip portions 26 and 28, respectively, the front and rear edges 46 and 38 of the retaining member 18 then being snap fitted into place so as to firmly engage portions 64 and 62 between the ends thereof and the inner curved surfaces of lip portions 26 and 28. Release of the element 14 from the head plate 22 involves merely pulling out the retaining member 18 by gripping it, for example, at squeegee 20 and retaining wall 40.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the handle 16 is seen to comprise a rigid bar 66 of suitable diameter and suitable material having fixed to and extending from its distal end a rigid, reduced diameter, preferably metal L-shaped rod 67. The rod 67 includes a linear arm 68 which is positioned parallel with respect to the axis of bar 66, a downwardly extending arm 70, and a laterally extending arm 72 which is adapted to be engaged by journal tube 30 by insertion into its inner end 32. As best seen in FIG. 2, a slot 74 is provided in rigid bar 66 for receiving the linear portion 68 which terminates in a hooked end 76. A retaining ring 78 is also provided to maintain rod 67 in position within bar 66.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side section of the preferred embodiment which shows the handle 16 in a first cleaning position which corresponds to the passage of downwardly extending arm 70 through the interior slot portion 56 of transverse slot 48 in retaining member 18. In this position, the handle 16 is seen to be freely movable between the confines of interior slot portion 56 as defined by the side walls thereof and by its terminating end 50 and detents 54. It is noted in this connection that detents 54 extend inwardly of the lateral side walls of transverse slot 48 a sufficient amount so as to just prevent passage therethrough of downwardly extending arm 70 of handle 16, as best seen in FIG. 5. This first cleaning position of handle 16 is intended for use while the main working portion 60 of cleaning element 14 is being utilized on, for example, a floor.

In the second cleaning position of handle 16, illustrated with particularity in FIGS. 3 and 6, the handle 16 is pushed downwardly until downwardly extending arm 70 is forceably passed between detents 54 until it extends through exterior slot portion 58 of transverse slot 48. This second position of the handle 16 is intended to be utilized when the squeegee 20 is desired to be utilized. In this second position, it is important that the handle 16 be maintained substantially fixed with respect to the cleaning head 12 and that relatively little or no lateral motion be imparted to the handle. The foregoing is accomplished by virtue of the judicious selection of the location of detents 54 with respect to the arm portions 68 and 70 of the handle. As best seen in FIG. 3, upward movement of downwardly extending arm 70 is prevented by its abutment, such as at 80, with detents 54, while downward movement of linear arm 68 of the handle is prevented by virtue of its abutment with upper portion 82 of the front edge portion 64 of cleaning element 14. Sufficient resiliency is provided when utilizing squeegee 20 by virtue of the inwardly turned lip portion 26 of the forward edge of plate 22.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning device which comprises:

an applicator head including a retaining plate and a head plate;

a handle pivoted to said applicator head;

said retaining plate having front and rear longitudinally extending edges, a squeegee mounted in a channel-shaped slot which is formed by said rear edge and a transverse slot extending rearwardly of said front edge, said transverse slot having detent means extending inwardly therefrom which define interior and exterior slot portions;

said head plate comprising a substantially flat longitudinally elongated plate whose longitudinal edges are each shaped to form an inwardly extending lip, said lips adapted to removably engage said front and rear longitudinally extending edges of retaining plate;

said handle including an inclined arm which extends through said transverse slot so as to be selectively positionable through either said interior or exterior slot portions which respectively define first and second cleaning positions for said handle.

2. The cleaning device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an applicator element which includes a working portion underlying said head plate, and front and rear flexible edge portions extending longitudinally along both sides of said working portion and wrapped about said lips of said head plate and engaged by said front and rear edges of said retaining plate.

3. The cleaning device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said retaining plate includes a horizontal planar portion having an edge which terminates in said channel-shaped slot, and an inclined portion angularly extending from the other edge of said planar portion to said front edge of said retaining plate, and wherein said transverse slot extends laterally through said inclined portion and terminates in said planar portion.

4. The cleaning device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said planar portion of said retaining plate is substantially parallel with said head plate and wherein said squeegee upwardly extends adjacent to said planar portion.

5. The cleaning device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said detent means are positioned in said transverse slot so as to allow substantial freedom of movement of said handle while in said first cleaning position during which time said applicator element is normally being used, and so as to prevent movement of said handle while in said second cleaning position during which time said squeegee is normally being used.

6. A cleaning device which comprises:

an applicator head including a head plate;

a handle pivotably mounted on said head plate;

a retaining plate overlying the head plate and having means engageable with said head plate to lock said retaining plate to said head plate;

said retaining plate including an elongated slot therein through which said handle passes;

said slot having detent means extending inwardly therefrom defining first and second slot portions into which said handle is selectively positionable in corresponding first and second cleaning positions;

said slot portions being so proportioned with respect to said handle, said retaining plate and said head plate that in said first cleaning position said handle is freely movable in said first slot portion while in said second cleaning position said handle is locked in a fixed position within said second slot portion.

7. The cleaning device set forth in claim 6 wherein said retaining plate carries a squeegee extending substantially perpendicularly thereto and in said second cleaning position said handle extends substantially perpendicularly to said squeegee.

8. The cleaning device set forth in claim 6 wherein said head plate has opposed longitudinally extending upwardly turned lips for lockingly engaging said retaining plate, said handle resiliently abutting against one of said lips when in said second cleaning position.

9. The cleaning device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said handle further includes a lateral arm extending perpendicularly from said inclined arm along said head plate.

10. The cleaning device as set forth in claim 9, wherein said head plate further includes a journal tube in which said lateral arm of said handle is removably engaged.