Portable cleaning device

• US 4,137,588 A
• Filed: 05/02/1977
• Issued: 02/06/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clayton C. Sandt, Ira L. Kulp
• Original Assignee: Clayton C. Sandt, Ira L. Kulp
• Inventors: Sandt, Clayton C., Kulp, Ira L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Christopher R.
• Application Number:
  US05/792,548
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 15/22 R, 15/23, 15/24, 15/28, 15/29, 15/97 R, 320/2
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers

Abstract

This disclosure pertains to a portable rechargeable battery operated handheld cleaning device adapted to receive various cleaning implements, such as wire brushes, abrasive wheels, and the like into one of the dual internally housed transverse cleaning implement receiving tongues. Each tongue, used singly at the option of the user, has a reciprocating motion limited to one hundred eighty degrees. Terminals are provided for recharging the batteries included in the waterproof fully immersible housing. A charging device, operating from household voltage, provides the requisite battery charging current when the handheld cleaning device is connected to it. The charging device is energized by the household current only when the handheld cleaning device is inserted into it, so as to close a charging enabling switch internally mounted within the charging device.

Claims

1. A portable cleaning device comprising a waterproof housing with openings providing access to enclosed first electrical engaging terminals, on-off operating switch, first cleaning implement receiving tongue and second cleaning implement receiving tongue, the opening nearest said terminals comprises a slot in said housing, said first electrical engaging terminals connected to rechargeable batteries contained within said waterproof housing, said rechargeable batteries providing electrical energy to an electric motor contained within said housing when said operating switch is closed, an output of said electric motor adapted to rotatably attach to a gear train contained within said housing, said gear train rotatably connected to cam means providing alternating reciprocating motion limited to one hundred eighty degree rotation to first and second shafts, the axes of said first and second shafts being located at right angles to each other lying in a plane, the longitudinal axis of said housing lying in said plane and coincident with the axis of said first shaft, said first cleaning implement receiving tongue being fastened to said first shaft, said second cleaning implement receiving tongue being fastened to said second shaft.

2. The portable cleaning device of claim 1 in combination with an enclosure comprising rechargeable battery charging means adapted to be operated from household voltage, a cavity in said enclosure adapted to receive the immediate surrounding structure of said housing adjacent said slot, a line cord adapted to supply input power to said rechargeable battery charging means in series with a power supply energizing control switch, said power supply energizing control switch being in closed position upon engagement or location of said immediate surrounding structure of said housing into said cavity and being in open position when said immediate surrounding structure of said housing is disengaged from said cavity, said rechargeable battery charging means adapted to provide suitable charging voltage for said rechargeable battery to second electrical engaging terminals in said cavity, said first and second engaging terminals being electrically connected to each other when said immediate surrounding structure of said housing is placed within said cavity.

3. The portable cleaning device of claim 2 further comprising said enclosure having a portable cleaning device supporting cavity formed therein, said supporting cavity adapted to receive the portion of said housing structure immediately surrounding said slot, said supporting cavity confined within said enclosure, means to fasten said enclosure to a vertical surface.

4. The portable cleaning device of claim 1 in combination with a cleaning implement comprising a shaft having one free end, said free end adapted to securely engage either said first tongue or said second tongue, said cleaning implement shaft being coaxial with said first shaft when said cleaning implement free end is in engagement with said first cleaning implement recieving tongue, said cleaning implement shaft being coaxial with said second shaft when said cleaning implement free end is in engagement with said second cleaning implement receiving tongue, means to disengage said cleaning implement from said first or said second cleaning implement receiving tongues located on said one free end of said cleaning implement.

5. The portable cleaning device of claim 4 further comprising the other end of said cleaning implement shaft having surface abrading means affixed thereto.

6. The portable cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of finger gripping undulations formed within the surface of said housing.