Ergonomic cleaning apparatus with multiple scrubbing surfaces

• US 5,915,869 A
• Filed: 01/28/1998
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology Academy of Military Medical Sciences PLA China
• Original Assignee: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology Academy of Military Medical Sciences PLA China
• Inventors: Wade, Eric, Thomas, Nicole, Arvizo, Teodoro III, Bradshaw, Sean, Hiroshige, Scott K., Agosto, Melina A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Randall E.
• Application Number:
  US09/014,800
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 15/245.1, 15/118, 15/104.93, 15/104.94, 15/208, 15/209.1, 15/210.1, 15/229.11, 15/244.4, 401/201, 401/9, 401/183, 401/207
• US Class Current: 401/201
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/07 Metal sponges A47L13/022, A47L13/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/16 Cloths; Pads; Sponges metal scraping sponges A47L13/07
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 17/08 Pads; Balls of steel wool, wire, or plastic meshes

Abstract

A substantially tetrahedral squeezable resilient core cleaning utensil provided on its various faces with permanent or removable scrubbing surfaces, including porous surfaces containing detergent and the like.

Claims

1. A cleaning utensil having a core provided with faces formed in substantially the shape of a tetrahedron, wherein each face of the core is fitted with at least one scrubbing surface and wherein cavities are provided in at least one of the core and the surfaces, filled with detergent to be released by squeezing the utensil.

2. A cleaning utensil as claimed in claim 1 wherein an integrated framework skeleton is provided in the core to aid in maintaining structural integrity.

3. A cleaning utensil as claimed in claim 1 wherein the scrubbing surfaces are removable.

4. A cleaning utensil as claimed in claim 1 wherein the scrubbing surfaces are replaceable.

5. A cleaning utensil as claimed in claim 1 wherein the core is provided with one of truncated and rounded, corners and edges.

6. A cleaning utensil as claimed in claim 1 wherein the core is of water-absorbent sponge material and the scrubbing surfaces are selected from the group consisting of scouring pads, terry cloth, copper wool, steel wool and sponge materials.

7. A cleaning utensil as claimed in claim 6 wherein different of the scrubbing surfaces are form different types of scrubbing material.