Cleaning implements

• US 6,579,023 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Benecke, Arnold George, Zwart, Kevin James, Lesley, Paul Michael, Kunkler, Jeffery Scott, Boyer, Christopher Todd, Campbell, Kevin Michael, Kleiss, Roderick Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/865,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20010046407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 401/138, 401/137, 401/139, 401/140, 401/270, 401/282, 15/98, 152/31, 152/28, 15/501, 153/20, 153/21
• US Class Current: 401/138
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/256 for mops made of cloth
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/51 Storing of cleaning tools, e.g. containers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/28 and associated with receptacle hodlers
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/662 Carbohydrates or derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 1/72 Ethers of polyoxyalkylene glycols
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/049 Cleaning or scouring pads; Wipes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3792 Amine oxide containing polymers

Abstract

A cleaning implement includes a liquid delivery system for providing a cleaning liquid to a surface to be cleaned having a canister for storing a liquid, an electrical motor driving a pump, and a voltage source for engerizing the electric motor. A support head is pivotally attached to the handle for releasably receiving a cleaning sheet. The handle includes a switch and is formed from a plurality of handle sections. Each handle section has at least one electrical connector which is electrically connected with an electrical connector of an adjacent handle section so that the switch can activate the electrical motor. The support head can be configured to allow visual inspection of the cleaning sheet through the support head during use. The canister is provided with plurality of side walls and vent valve having a cracking pressure of at least about 0.6 Kpa, wherein the canister is substantially in the form of a parallelogram in a plan view cross section and wherein one or more of the side walls has a plurality of grooves.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement, comprising:

a liquid delivery system for providing a cleaning liquid to a surface to be cleaned having an electrical motor and a voltage source;

a handle having a switch disposed thereon and comprising a plurality of handle sections, wherein each section has at least one electrical connector which is electrically connected with an electrical connector of an adjacent handle section so that said switch can activate said electrical motor; and

a support head pivotally attached to said handle for releasably receiving a cleaning sheet.

2. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein said sections are formed from hollow tubes.

3. The cleaning implement of claim 2, wherein said handle comprises a first section, a second section, and a third section, wherein said second section is disposed between said first section and said third section, wherein said second section has two electrical connectors disposed within said tube of said second section and wherein said internal electrical connectors are interconnected by at least one wire within said tube of said second section.

4. The cleaning implement of claim 3, wherein said tubes have a substantially flat surface thereon.

5. The cleaning implement of claim 4, wherein said tubes of said first and third sections of said handle have an outside diameter which is slightly less than the inside diameter of said tube of said second section of said handle so that said first and said third sections of said handle slide into said tube of said second section.

6. The cleaning implement of claim 5, wherein said first and third sections each have a first connector offset from the end of said tube of said first and said third sections and said second section has a second connector disposed adjacent to each end of said tube thereof and wherein said first and second connectors engage to secure said sections together.

7. The cleaning implement of claim 6, wherein said first connectors have at least one prong and said second connectors have at least one hole which engages said at least one hole of said first connectors.

8. The cleaning implement of claim 3, wherein said first section has a handle grip with a handle portion for gripping by a user and a switch portion containing said switch wherein a ridge is disposed between said handle portion and said switch portion for separating said portions.

9. The cleaning implement of claim 8, wherein the longitudinal axis of said switch portion is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said second section.

10. The cleaning implement of claim 9, wherein the longitudinal axis of said handle portion for gripping is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of said switch portion and wherein said angle is between about 90 degrees and about 140 degrees.

11. The cleaning implement of claim 10, wherein said switch is located below the outer surface of said switch portion.

12. The cleaning implement of claim 3, wherein said first and third sections of said handle each have an electrical connector disposed at the end of each said tube of said first and said third sections.

13. The cleaning implement of claim 3, wherein at least one of said two electrical connectors of said second section of said handle is offset the end of said tube of said second section.

14. The cleaning implement of claim 3, wherein said at least one of said two electrical connectors of said second section is disposed at least about 15 mm from the end of said second section.

15. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein said electrical connectors each have a plug and a socket, wherein said plug of one of said electrical connectors engages said socket of another of said electrical connectors.

16. The cleaning implement of claim 15, wherein said plug comprises a cylindrical post having a plurality of ribs extending radially there from.

17. The cleaning implement of claim 16, wherein said socket is in the form of a hole.