CLEANING DEVICE HAVING PLURAL AND CUSTOMIZABLE CLEANING SURFACES

• US 20120096662A1
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Uchiyama, Hirotaka, Bradbury, Glenn Allen, Schuller, David William, Shafer, Adam Robert-George, Daniel, Mimi Gizaw, Wells, Agnes Elaine, Borman, Michelle Lynn, Dubas, Aaron Fredrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,684,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/160
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0017 with pre-pressurised reservoirs, e.g. aerosols
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0041 Flexible or deformable reservoirs, e.g. resilient bulbs, compressible tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0075 Means integral with the brush for opening, puncturing or piercing sealed reservoirs, e.g. on insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/30 Brushes for cleaning or polishing
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0058 Mechanical joint or hinge made up of several components
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/02 specially shaped for holding by the hand
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/005 where the brushing material is not made of bristles, e.g. sponge, rubber or paper
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/26 Other cleaning devices with liquid supply arrangements such arrangements on floor-polishing machines A47L11/00, on scrapers A47L13/03, on mops A47L13/22; cloths, pads, or the like containing cleaning agents A47L13/17, A47L13/19

Abstract

A device for cleaning debris from a target surface. The device has a sole plate with permanent bristles and a removable/replaceable pad. The device also has a replaceable, on-board supply of cleanser. The pad/cleanser may be replaced when depleted and replaced with a new pad/cleanser or may simply be replaced with a new pad/cleanser when that pad/cleanser is more suitable for a particular cleaning task.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning debris from a target surface and having a longitudinal centerline, said device comprising:

a sole plate having a top and a bottom generally opposed thereto, said bottom of said sole plate comprising a cleaning material permanently attached thereto and extending outwardly therefrom and further comprising a space within said permanent cleaning material for receiving a removable pad therein;

a receptacle for receiving a cleanser or a container of cleanser therein, said receptacle being parallel said longitudinal centerline and the bottom of said sole plate; and

a manual actuator for dispensing cleanser from the container, through a dispensing orifice and onto the target surface.

4. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a generally planar pad removably installed in said space on the bottom of said sole plate.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said pad is a foam pad and further has an outwardly facing major surface when installed on the bottom of said sole plate, said pad further comprising a cover disposed on said outwardly facing major surface, said cover comprising a microfiber nonwoven.

6. A device according to claim 4 further comprising a container of cleanser disposed in said receptacle, said container comprising an aerosol container having a plastic body and volume less than or equal to 250 ml.

7. A device according to claim 6 comprising a loop handle joined to the top of said sole plate and weighing less than 750 grams with said pad and said cleanser installed.

8. A device according to claim 4 wherein said handle is hollow and structured to receive cleanser therein.

20. A device according to claim 4 wherein said permanently attached cleaning material extends outwardly from the bottom of said sole plate a first distance and said removable pad extends outwardly from the bottom of said sole plate a second distance, said second distance being greater than said first distance.

2. A customizable device for cleaning debris from a target surface, said device comprising:

a sole plate having a top and a bottom generally opposed thereto, said bottom of said sole plate comprising bristles permanently attached thereto and extending outwardly therefrom, and further comprising a pad removably attached to the bottom of said sole plate, said pad being nested within said bristles and comprising cleaning material selected from the group consisting of a nonwoven, polyurethane foam, melamine foam, one or more cellulosic sheets, granules, organic particles, plastic bristles, plastic sheet material, cleanser impregnated therein, foam, combinations thereof and laminates thereof;

a handle joined to said sole plate;

a receptacle for receiving a container of cleanser and being at least partially disposed within said handle; and

a manual actuator for dispensing cleanser from the container, through a nozzle and onto the target surface.

9. A device according to claim 2 wherein said pad is a melamine foam pad and further comprising a cover on said melamine foam pad, said cover comprising a microfiber nonwoven.

10. A device according to claim 2 wherein said container comprises a collapsible bag, said bag having a needle pierceable membrane for dispensing cleanser therefrom upon piercing by a hollow needle, whereby upon manual actuation by a user cleanser is dispensed from the bag, through said needle, out said nozzle and onto the target surface.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein said pierceable membrane comprises rubber.

12. A device according to claim 11 further comprising a spring compressively biasing said bag, whereby compression of said bag dispenses liquid therefrom in response to manual actuation by a user.

13. A device according to claim 2 comprising plural cleansers mixed at the point of use.

14. A device according to claim 2 comprising a first plurality of bristles and a second plurality of bristles, each plurality of bristles being mutually different and extending outwardly from the bottom of said sole plate.

15. A device according to claim 14 wherein at least one said plurality of bristles is juxtaposed with said perimeter of said bottom of said sole plate and extends outwardly therefrom in acute non-perpendicular angular relationship relative to the bottom of said sole plate.

3. A device for cleaning debris from a target surface, as incorporated into a kit, said device comprising:

a sole plate having a top and a bottom generally opposed thereto, said bottom of said sole plate comprising cleaning material permanently attached thereto and extending outwardly therefrom, and a space for receiving a removable pad therein;

a receptacle for receiving a container of cleanser;

a manual actuator for dispensing cleanser from the container, through a nozzle and onto the target surface;

said kit further comprising at least one foam pad removably attachable to the bottom of said sole plate, and at least one container of cleanser removably receivable in said receptacle.

16. A device as incorporated into a kit according to claim 3, wherein said kit comprises a plurality of pads removably attachable to said sole plate.

17. A device as incorporated into a kit according to claim 16 wherein at least two of said pads are mutually different.

18. A device as incorporated into a kit according to claim 3 wherein said kit comprises a plurality of containers of cleanser.

19. A device as incorporated into a kit according to claim 18 wherein at least two of said containers of cleanser contain mutually different cleansers.