Grooming/cleaning apparatus

• US 20060265822A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hartz Mountain Corporation (Unicharm Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hartz Mountain Corporation (Unicharm Corporation)
• Inventors: McKay, William D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,377,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/23
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/002 Curry-combs; Brushes shearing sheep B26B19/24
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/003 Devices for applying insecticides or medication A01K27/007 takes precedence; for veterinary purposes A61D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/001 Cylindrical or annular brush bodies

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus includes a handle, a support coupled to the handle and a cleaning element mountable on the support. The support is fixed to the handle or is rotatably coupled to the handle for rotation by a drive motor mounted in the handle. The cleaning element may include bristles extending from a flexible mat fixed about the support or about a core mountable on the support. A cleaning sheet is windable about the support, the core or the cleaning element, including over and through the bristles, for dual cleaning action.

Claims

1-74. -74. (canceled)

75. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

a cleaning element support;

a cleaning element removable mounted about the support and having opposed ends;

a handle coupled to the support, the handle rotatably coupled to the support;

clamp means carried on the support;

a slot formed in the support with the opposed ends of the cleaning element secured in the slot, said slot receiving said clamp means so as to engage said opposed ends to prevent dislodgement thereof from said slot.

76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the cleaning element comprises:

an exterior surface with cleaning members fixed thereto and radially projecting therefrom.

77. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the clamp means comprises:

a pivotal member carried on the support, the clamp means pivotal between a first position spaced from the support to a second position engaged with the opposed ends of said cleaning element.

78. The apparatus of claim 75, further including means carried on the opposed ends of the cleaning element for releasably mounting said opposed ends in said slot.

79. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein:

the cleaning element extends over substantially an entire exterior surface of the support.

80. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein said support has a cylindrical configuration.

81. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein said clamp means has first and second ends with teeth for selectively engaging recesses formed at either end of the support slot.

82. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

a cleaning element support;

a cleaning element removably disposed about said support;

a handle coupled to the support;

a slot formed along the support;

wherein opposed ends of the cleaning element are selectively disposed in said slot for securing the cleaning element in fixed position on the support; and

clamp means carried on the support for moving between a first open position and a second closed position, said second closed position having the clamp means positioned in said slot and between said disposed opposed ends of said cleaning element for preventing dislodgement thereof from said slot.

83. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein said slot includes a running rib for separating the opposed ends of the cleaning element when said ends are mounted in said slot.

84. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein said support has a cylindrical configuration.

85. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein said cleaning element has an exterior surface with a plurality of cleaning element projections fixed thereto and radially projecting therefrom.

86. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein said support includes a core having circumferentially spaced interiorly formed ribs for selectively mating with circumferentially spaced recesses of a rotatable spindle extending from said handle.

87. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

a cleaning element support;

a cleaning element removably disposed about said support;

a handle coupled to the support;

a slot formed along the support;

wherein opposed ends of the cleaning element are selectively disposed in said slot;

wherein the support carries a clamping device selectively receivable in said slot when said opposed ends are disposed in said slot for engaging said opposed ends in order to secure the cleaning element in fixed position on the support.

88. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein said support has a cylindrical configuration and said cleaning element is in the form of a sheet or a tube.