Handle having disposable cleaning head

• US 20040129296A1
• Filed: 10/07/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hagleitner Hygiene International GmbH
• Original Assignee: Hagleitner Hygiene International GmbH
• Inventors: Treacy, Terrence, Enzfellner, Markus, Trenz, Diethard
• Granted Patent: US 7,287,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/01 Disposable brush A46B11/0003, A46B5/0004 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/304 Lavatory brush, i.e. brushes for cleaning toilets
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/04 interchangeably removable bristle carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 11/10 Hand tools for cleaning the toilet bowl , seat or cover, e.g. toilet brushes cleaning devices without flushing A47K17/00; mechanical devices for cleaning toilet bowls E03D

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus including: (1) a substantially hollow tubular body having a bore extending therein, (2) actuation means operably coupled to the body and including a plunger disposed within the body and (3) a cleaning head detachably coupled to the body, wherein actuation of the plunger ejects the cleaning head from the body.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a substantially hollow tubular body having a bore extending therein;

actuation means operably coupled to the body and including a plunger disposed within the body; and

a cleaning head detachably coupled to the body, wherein actuation of the plunger ejects the cleaning head from the body.

2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuation means includes a slidable collar concentrically disposed about the body and coupled to the plunger.

3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body comprises a receptacle having at least one rib configured to engage the cleaning head.

4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning head comprises a brush.

5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning head comprises a plurality of bristles and a retainer securing ends of the plurality of bristles.

6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5 wherein the plurality of bristles are arranged in a substantially spiral configuration.

7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning head includes a concave cleaning surface.

8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning head comprises biodegradable materials.

9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning head is disposable.

10. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cleaning head is flushable.

11. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle includes at least one O-ring configured to prevent fluid flow into the body.

12. A cleaning apparatus, comprising:

a body;

an actuator operably coupled to the body; and

a flushable cleaning head detachably coupled to the body and detachable from the body in response to actuation of the actuator.

13. A disposable cleaning head for use with a handle, comprising:

a plurality of bristles having ends collectively forming a cleaning surface;

a plurality of bridges connecting ones of the plurality of bristles;

a sleeve retaining portions of ones of the plurality of bristles; and

a head end detachably couplable to the handle.

14. The disposable cleaning head of claim 13 wherein an outer diameter of the head end is configured to engage an inner diameter of a handle end of the handle by interference fit.

15. The disposable cleaning head of claim 13 wherein the cleaning head comprises biodegradable materials.

16. The disposable cleaning head of claim 13 wherein the cleaning head is flushable.

17. The disposable cleaning head of claim 13 wherein ones of the plurality of bristles are wetted with a cleaning solution.

18. The disposable cleaning head of claim 13 further comprising a cleansing tablet positioned in a recess in the cleaning surface.

19. A handle for use with a disposable cleaning head, comprising:

a substantially hollow tubular body having a bore extending at least partially therein;

a plunger head disposed within the bore proximate an end of the body; and

a retainer coupled to the body and configured to temporarily engage the disposable cleaning head, wherein actuation of the plunger head ejects the disposable cleaning head from the retainer.

20. The handle of claim 19 wherein the body is a unitary body.

21. The handle of claim 19 wherein the body comprises at least two axially disposed sections.

22. A disposable cleaning head dispenser, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of disposable cleaning heads stored in the housing; and

a retainer detachably coupled to the housing and having a plurality of selectively removable portions each providing access to a corresponding one of the plurality of disposable cleaning heads.

23. The dispenser of claim 22 wherein each of the plurality of disposable cleaning heads is individually sealed within the housing.

24. The dispenser of claim 22 further comprising means for storing a handle configured to detachably engage a selected one of the plurality of disposable cleaning heads.

25. The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the plurality of disposable cleaning heads includes at least four cleaning heads.

26. The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the dispenser includes an interface for securing the dispenser to a surface selected from the group consisting of:

a furniture panel;

a wall; and

a floor.

27. The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the housing includes a plurality of compartments each containing one of the plurality of disposable cleaning heads.

28. The dispenser of claim 27 wherein each of the plurality of compartments is configured to receive an end of a handle to secure the handle to a selected one of the plurality of disposable cleaning heads before removing the selected one of the plurality of disposable cleaning heads from the housing.

29. A cleaning kit, comprising:

a dispenser;

at least one disposable cleaning head stored in the dispenser; and

a handle having an end configured to detachably retain the at least one disposable cleaning head.

30. The cleaning kit of claim 29 wherein the dispenser includes means for storing the handle.

31. The cleaning kit of claim 29 wherein the dispenser is configured to store at least four cleaning heads.

32. The cleaning kit of claim 29 wherein the dispenser includes an interface for securing the dispenser to a surface selected from the group consisting of:

a furniture panel;

a wall; and

a floor.

33. The cleaning kit of claim 29 further comprising a hanging clip configured to interface with a toilet, the handle configured to hang from the hanging clip.

34. A method of cleaning a surface, comprising:

providing a body;

inserting a cleaning head into the body such that the cleaning head is retained in the body;

contacting the cleaning head against the surface; and

ejecting the cleaning head from the body.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the surface is a surface of a toilet and ejecting includes ejecting the cleaning head into the toilet, the method further comprising flushing the toilet after ejecting the cleaning head.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the cleaning head includes a plurality of bristles and contacting the cleaning head against the surface causes the plurality of bristles to flare.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the body includes a plunger coupled to a collar, the collar movably coupled to the body and movable between first and second positions, wherein ejecting the cleaning head includes moving the collar from the first position towards the second position such that the plunger urges the cleaning head away from the body.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein moving the collar towards the second position causes the plunger to become substantially flush with an end of the body thereby ejecting the cleaning head.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising releasing the collar whereby the collar moves towards the first position such that the plunger moves away from the end of the body.