Cleaning instrument for carpets and like surfaces

• US 4,802,782 A
• Filed: 12/16/1987
• Issued: 02/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scalf, James
• Original Assignee: Scalf, James
• Inventors: Scalf, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US07/133,840
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 401/138, 401/139, 401/137, 401/140, 401/27, 401/25, 401/26, 401/23, 401/24, 401/39, 15/114
• US Class Current: 401/138
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/31 having movable or detachable polishing or shining cloths

Abstract

A cleaning tool or instrument designed generally to clean carpets and like surfaces and more specifically designed to remove spots, stains, etc. therefrom. A first agitating rake-like head is attached to an elongated base and extends outwardly into an operative position from one side of the base. A second liquid absorbing or blotting structure is secured to the base at the corresponding end as the agitating member but extending outwardly from a different side thereof wherein the base, through manipulation of the handle means, is positionable so as to apply either the agitating structure or the blotting structure to the carpet for purposes of respectively working the surface in an agitating manner and blotting or at least partially absorbing absorbing any cleaning fluid applied to the carpet for purposes of removing the spot or stain.

Claims

1. A cleaning tool assembly designed to clean and remove stains and the like from a carpet or like surface, said assembly comprising:

(a) a base having an elongated configuration and including a handle means mounted, at least partially, at one end thereof for manipulating said tool assembly,

(b) an agitating means for working the surface being cleaned and secured to an opposite end of said base relative to said handle means and extending outwardly from said base,

(c) a cleaning means for removing fluid from the surface being cleaned and secured to said base at said opposite end and extending outwardly from said base in a different direction than said agitating means,

(d) said cleaning means comprising a support head and a fluid absorbing member secured to said support head and positionable in movable engagement with a surface being cleaned,

(e) said support head pivotally secured to said base and including an elongated support surface reciprocally positionable and engageable with the surface being cleaned upon manipulation of said base and handle means, said support surface comprising a substantially arcuate cross-sectional configuration extending along its length,

(f) said fluid absorbing member comprising a flexible absorbent material cover removably mounted in overlying, exposed and supporting engagement on said support surface,

(g) said fluid absorbing member extending in covering and substantially conforming relation to said support surface and assuming the arcuate cross-sectional configuration thereof and including opposite ends thereof removably connected to said support head outboard in spaced relation to said support surface and being structured for removably connecting opposite ends of said absorbing member, and

(h) said base and said handle means being cooperatively disposed and configured for reverse orientation relative to the surface being cleaned and positioning of said base being a first and a second operative position respectively defined by said agitating means and said cleaning means being disposed in operative engagement with the surface being cleaned.

2. An assembly as in claim 1 further comprising connecting means secured to said support head in spaced relation to said support surface and being structured for removably connecting opposite ends of said absorbing member.

3. An assembly as in claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprises two spaced apart connecting clips each mounted in spaced, adjacent relation to a different opposite end of said support surface and each connecting clip removably attachable to a different opposite end of said absorbing member.

4. An assembly as in claim 1 further comprising a liquid dispensing means mounted on said base and disposed and structured to dispense a cleaning liquid therefrom onto a designated portion of the surface being cleaned.

5. An assembly as in claim 4 wherein said liquid dispensing means comprises a dispensing head disposed substantially adjacent said opposite end of said base in communicating relation to the surface being cleaned.

6. An assembly as in claim 5 wherein said liquid dispensing means further comprises an actuating means connected to said base substantially adjacent said handle means and operable for releasing liquid from said dispensing head onto the surface being cleaned.

7. An assembly as in claim 1 wherein said handle means comprises oppositely disposed portions extending outwardly in substantially different directions from said base and alternately usable for positioning of said base in either said first or said second operative positions.

8. An assembly as in claim 7 wherein said handle means further comprises a guide structure mounted on said base in spaced relation to said one end thereof and disposed and structured to be used in cooperation with one of said handle portions for the manipulation of said base into one of said first or second operative positions.

9. An assembly as in claim 8 wherein said guide structure comprises two guide elements each extending outwardly from said base in a different direction and spaced in communicating relation to a remainder of said handle means mounted on said one end.

10. An assembly as in claim 9 wherein said handle means comprises two oppositely disposed handle portions extending outwardly in substantially opposite directions from said base and alternately usable for positioning of said base in either said first or said second operative positions, each guide element disposed in spaced relation to a different one of said handle portions and extending outwardly from said base in a substantially similar direction as to a corresponding one of said handle portions.