Cleaning implement having a rotatable handle

• US 6,105,194 A
• Filed: 04/09/1998
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald R. Rudolph
• Original Assignee: Donald R. Rudolph
• Inventors: Rudolph, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US09/057,857
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 15/143.1, 15/145
• US Class Current: 15/145
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/302 Broom
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/005 Brushes with a telescopic or similarly moveable portion
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0095 Removable or interchangeable brush heads

Abstract

A cleaning implement such as a mop or broom having an elongated tubular handle with several independently rotatable portions for minimizing the strain on a user'"'"'s wrist or forearm. The handle may be interchangeably connected to either a mop or broom head using a quick type connector at a distal end thereof. The connector relates to a pair of diametrically opposing pins which are slidably received within L-shaped slots on a body portion protruding from the mop and broom heads. Alternatively, the handle may be secured to a cylindrical adaptor likewise having a pair of L-shaped slots thereon. The adaptor has an externally threaded portion at a distal end for threadedly engaging internally threaded bores on certain conventional mop and broom heads.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement comprising:

an elongated tubular handle including a fixed segment having upper and lower ends and a first diameter with an elongated tubular dowel having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter protruding from the upper end thereof;

a plurality of hollow, independently rotatable, adjacent sleeves rotatably mounted to said dowel;

a cleaning element;

means for attaching said cleaning element to the lower end of said fixed segment.

2. A cleaning implement according to claim 1 wherein said means for attaching a cleaning element to said fixed segment comprises:

a pair of diametrically opposed pins proximal the lower end of said first segment;

a cylindrical body portion on said cleaning element having a pair of opposing L-shaped slots thereon for slidably receiving said pins.

3. A cleaning implement according to claim 2 further comprising a cap member threadedly engaging a distal end of said dowel to retain said sleeves thereon.

4. A cleaning implement according to claim 3 wherein said cleaning element is a mop head.

5. A cleaning implement according to claim 3 wherein said cleaning element is a broom head.

6. A cleaning implement according to claim 1 wherein said means for attaching a cleaning element comprises an adapter having a cylindrical, tubular body with a pair of opposing L-shaped slots proximal an end thereof with an externally threaded portion at an opposing end for threadedly engaging a threaded bore on a said cleaning element.