Fabric Sweeper

• US 20100325826A1
• Filed: 07/13/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Thurin, Matthew N., Knopow, Jeremy F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,015,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/160
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/33 having means for storing dirt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4025 Means for emptying
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 25/005 using adhesive or tacky surfaces to remove dirt, e.g. lint removers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 25/08 Pads or the like for cleaning clothes using adhesive surfaces A47L25/005

Abstract

The present invention is a device for use in cleaning a fabric surface of dust, dirt, pet hair, and other debris present on the surface. The device includes a housing, a cleaning member, such as a roller, and a pair of cleaning material sections on opposite sides of the roller. The cleaning member has a protrusion that selectively engages one of a pair of stops to prevent rotation of the cleaning member past a respective stop.

Claims

1. A fabric cleaning device comprising:

a housing comprising a base portion and a handle portion that extends upwardly from the base portion;

a roller movably secured within base portion to extend at least partially out of the housing, the roller having a debris removing surface;

a pair of cleaning material sections attached to the housing on opposite sides of the roller;

a protrusion extending from a perimeter of the roller; and

a pair of stops that selectively engage the protrusion to prevent rotation of the roller past a respective stop.

2. The fabric cleaning device of claim 1, further comprising a pair of opposed debris removing edges extending from the housing and towards the roller, wherein each of the cleaning material sections is attached to a respective debris removing edge.

3. The fabric cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the stop extends from the housing to engage the protrusion.

4. The fabric cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the roller is semi-cylindrical in shape.

5. The fabric cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the stops are aligned on opposite sides of the roller.

6. The fabric cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the debris removing surface of the roller includes two sections of unidirectional fabric, and wherein each of the cleaning material sections comprises unidirectional fabric.

7. The fabric cleaning device of claim 6, wherein the two sections of unidirectional fabric on the roller are oriented upwardly toward the handle portion and wherein the unidirectional fabric on the cleaning material sections of the housing is oriented downwardly away from the handle portion.

8. A cleaning device comprising:

a semi-circular housing;

a single main roller mounted in the housing to attract and pick up debris, the roller including a section of directional material;

a stop on the roller to lock the roller at a specific point; and

two sections of directional material attached to the housing to shed the debris from the main roller and trap it inside the housing;

wherein the main roller rotates about 180 degrees.

9. The cleaning device of claim 8:

wherein the stop is a first of two stops;

wherein the roller is rotated in a first direction to pick up debris until the first stop locks the roller, and

wherein the roller is rotated about 180 degrees in a second direction until a second stop locks the roller.

10. The cleaning device of claim 9, wherein the roller is rotated in the first and second directions until the housing contains a desired amount of debris.

11. The cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the directional material on the roller has tabs cut out to align with corresponding structures on the roller and is yellow in color.

12. The cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the directional material on the roller has cuts to mate with bosses on the roller.

13. The cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the housing has a first half and a second half joined by stakes which fit into holes to connect the two halves;

wherein the housing is embossed with the device'"'"'s brand; and

wherein each of the sections of directional material attached to the housing is comprised of a strip of velour affixed to a respective half of the housing with an adhesive.

14. A fabric cleaning device comprising:

a housing having a base portion and a handle portion that extends upwardly from the base portion,

a cleaning member movably secured within base portion to extend at least partially out of the housing, the cleaning member having a debris removing surface;

a pair of cleaning material sections attached to opposite sides of the housing;

a protrusion extending away from the cleaning member; and

a pair of stops on opposite sides of the cleaning member that that selectively engage the protrusion to prevent rotation of the cleaning member past a respective stop.

15. The cleaning device of claim 14, wherein the housing is rectangular along the base portion and has a rounded handle portion;

wherein sides of the bottom portion are straight and ends of the of bottom portion are rounded; and

wherein a ridge protrudes from the bottom portion of the housing and the cleaning material sections are attached to the ridge.

16. The fabric cleaning device of claim 14, further comprising a pair of cleaning material sections positioned on opposite sides of the cleaning member such that a respective cleaning material section attached to the housing will engage a respective cleaning material section attached to the cleaning member when the cleaning member is in a certain position.

17. The fabric cleaning device of claim 16, further comprising a pair of debris removing edges, wherein the cleaning material sections on opposite sides of the cleaning member are attached to a respective debris removing edge.

18. The cleaning device of claim 14, wherein the housing has a first-half and a second-half which are configured with receiving portions and fit together to receive respective ends of cleaning member.

19. The fabric cleaning device of claim 17, wherein cleaning material sections attached to the cleaning member and positioned on opposite sides of the cleaning member are velour.

20. The fabric cleaning device of claim 19, wherein the cleaning member rotates about 180 degrees.