Cleaning implement with interchangeable tool heads

• US 6,953,299 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2004
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clorox Company
• Original Assignee: Clorox Company
• Inventors: Wang, Marcus, Johnson, Kaj, Hall, Michael J., Silk, Thomas, London, Aaron R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/766,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20040184867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 401/18, 401/25, 401/26, 401/27, 401/123, 401/137, 401/138, 401/139, 401/140, 401/261, 401/268
• US Class Current: 401/279
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0017 with pre-pressurised reservoirs, e.g. aerosols
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/256 for mops made of cloth

Abstract

A system for treating a work surface including a handle portion, a first tool head adapted for use with a removable pad and a second tool head, both connectable to the handle portion, and a first fluid reservoir is disclosed. In some arrangements, the second tool head can be used with a removable pad or can include an electric motor. A controller can be provided for releasing and stopping fluid flow from the first fluid reservoir. An optional second fluid reservoir can also be used. The first tool head and the first fluid reservoir can include a first indicium that can be characterized by a feature such as color, shape, picture, text, or sound. The indicium can signify a work surface, a purpose for surface treatment, a mode of operation or instructions. Surface treatments include applying, cleaning, scrubbing, waxing, polishing, disinfecting, killing mites, killing fleas, detoxifying, neutralizing allergens, painting, removing liquids, and fertilizing.

Claims

1. A system for treating a work surface comprising:

a handle portion having a proximal end and a distal end wherein the distal end includes a first coupling;

a first tool head having a plurality of surfaces, the first tool head adapted for use with a removable pad on at least a portion of a first surface of the first tool head and having a second coupling on a second surface of the first tool head, the second coupling capable of making a connection to and disconnecting from the first coupling on the handle portion;

a second tool head having a plurality of surfaces and having a third coupling on a first surface of the second tool head, the third coupling capable of making a connection to and disconnecting from the first coupling on the handle portion;

a first fluid reservoir capable of attaching to the system and configured to deliver a first fluid to the work surface; and

a second fluid reservoir capable of attaching to the system and capable of delivering a second fluid to the work surface;

wherein the first fluid reservoir comprises a first portion of a vessel and the second fluid reservoir comprises a second portion of the vessel.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controlling mechanism adjacent the handle portion, the controlling mechanism allowing a user to regulate release of fluid from the first fluid reservoir to the work surface and to regulate release of fluid from the second fluid reservoir to the work surface.

3. A system for treating a work surface comprising:

a handle portion having a proximal end and a distal end wherein the distal end includes a first coupling;

a first tool head having a plurality of surfaces, the first tool head adapted for use with a removable pad on at least a portion of a first surface of the first tool head and having a second coupling on a second surface of the first tool head, the second coupling capable of making a connection to and disconnecting from the first coupling on the handle portion, wherein the connection includes at least one axis of rotation;

a locking mechanism associated with the connection and capable of locking at least one axis of rotation;

a second tool head having a plurality of surfaces and having a third coupling on a first surface of the second tool head, the third coupling capable of making a connection to and disconnecting from the first coupling on the handle portion; and

a first fluid reservoir capable of attaching to the system and configured to deliver a first fluid to the work surface.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the handle portion can be extended and retracted.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the connection between the second coupling and the first coupling is selected from the group consisting of mechanical, electrical, friction, magnetic and adhesive connections.

6. The system of claim 3 further comprising a cradle attached to the handle portion wherein the cradle is capable of securing the first fluid reservoir to the system.

7. The system of claim 3, further comprising a controlling mechanism adjacent the handle portion, the controlling mechanism allowing a user to regulate release of fluid from the first fluid reservoir to the work surface.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein the second tool head comprises bristles.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the second tool head is adapted for use with a removable pad on at least a portion of a second surface.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein the second tool head comprises at least one device selected from the group consisting of squeegees, scrubbers, absorbent pads, disposable cleaning pads, rollers, and slides.

11. The system of claim 3 wherein the second tool head comprises an electric motor.

12. The system of claim 3 wherein the first fluid reservoir is detachable.

13. The system of claim 3 wherein the first fluid reservoir is a type selected from the group consisting of gravity flow reservoirs, physically pumped reservoirs, pressurized reservoirs, electronically pumped reservoirs and aerosol reservoirs.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a controller for releasing and stopping fluid flow from the first fluid reservoir.

15. A system for treating a work surface comprising:

a handle portion having a proximal end and a distal end wherein the distal end includes a first coupling;

a first tool head having a plurality of surfaces, the first tool head adapted for use with a removable pad on at least a portion of a first surface of the first tool head and having a second coupling on a second surface of the first tool head, the second coupling capable of making a connection to and disconnecting from the first coupling on the handle portion;

a second tool head having a plurality of surfaces and having a third coupling on a first surface of the second tool head, the third coupling capable of making a connection to and disconnecting from the first coupling on the handle portion;

a first fluid reservoir capable of attaching to the system and configured to deliver a first fluid to the work surface; and

a first indicium on both the first tool head and the first fluid reservoir.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first indicium is characterized by a feature selected from the group consisting of color, shape, picture, text, and sound.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the first indicium signifies a first work surface.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the first indicium signifies a first purpose for surface treatment.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the first indicium signifies a first mode of operation.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the first indicium comprises instructions on treating the work surface.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein the first indicium on the first tool head and the first indicium on the first fluid reservoir are identical.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein the second tool head also includes a first indicium.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising a second fluid reservoir also including the first indicium.

24. A system for treating a work surface comprising:

a handle portion having a proximal end and a distal end;

a variety of tool heads capable of coupling to the distal end of the handle portion;

a first removable pad capable of attaching to at least a portion of a first tool head, the first removable pad adapted for providing a first treatment to the work surface;

a second removable pad capable of attaching to at least a portion of a second tool head, the second removable pad adapted for providing a second treatment to the work surface;

a first fluid reservoir capable of attaching to the system and capable of delivering a first fluid to the work surface; and

a first indicium on both the first removable pad and the first fluid reservoir.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising the first indicium on the first tool head.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the first indicium is characterized by a feature selected from the group consisting of color, shapes picture, text, and sound.

27. The system of claim 24 further comprising a second fluid reservoir capable of attaching to the system and capable of delivering a second fluid to the work surface.

28. The system of claim 27 further comprising a second indicium on both the second removable pad and the second fluid reservoir.

29. The system of claim 28 further comprising the second indicium on the second tool head.

30. A system for making surface modifications, comprising;

a long component with a first connector on one end;

a plurality of tool heads, each tool head adapted for at least one surface modification, each tool head having an indicium related to the at least one surface modification, and each tool head having a connector capable of attaching to the first connector;

a plurality of removable pads, each removable pad adapted for at least one surface modification, each removable pad associated with the tool head adapted for the at least one surface modification, each removable pad having an indicium related to the at least one surface modification, and each removable pad capable of attaching to the tool head having the same indicium; and

at least one reservoir capable of attaching to the system and capable of dispensing a fluid adapted for at least one surface modification, the reservoir having an indicium related to the at least one surface modification.

31. A method of effecting treatment on a work surface, comprising:

providing a handle portion of a system, the handle portion having a first coupling at one end;

attaching a first tool head, chosen from a variety of possible tool heads, to the first coupling as part of the system, the first tool head containing a first indicium;

securing a first removable pad to a surface of the first tool head as part of the system, the first removable pad containing the first indicium;

providing a first fluid to a first fluid reservoir, the first fluid useful in effecting a first treatment, the first fluid reservoir attached to the system, the first fluid reservoir containing the first indicium and having a controller for releasing the first fluid to the work surface;

positioning the system so that the first removable pad is in contact with the work surface;

activating the controller to release the first fluid to the work surface; and

moving the system along the work surface to effect the first treatment.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

removing the first tool head from the system;

attaching a second tool head, chosen from a variety of possible tool heads, to the first coupling as part of the system, the second tool head containing a second indicium;

securing a second removable pad to a surface of the second tool head as part of the system, the second removable pad containing the second indicium;

providing a second fluid to a second fluid reservoir, the second fluid useful in effecting a second treatment, the second fluid reservoir attached to the system, the second fluid reservoir containing the second indicium and having a controller for releasing the second fluid to the work surface;

positioning the system so that the second removable pad is in contact with the work surface;

activating the controller to release the second fluid to the work surface; and

moving the system along the work surface to effect the second treatment.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising removing the first fluid reservoir from the system.

34. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

removing the first tool head from the system;

attaching a third tool head, chosen from a variety of possible tool heads, to the first coupling as part of the system, the third tool head containing a third indicium;

securing a third removable pad to a surface of the third tool head as part of the system, the third removable pad containing the third indicium;

positioning the system so that the third removable pad is in contact with the work surface; and

moving the system along the work surface to effect the third treatment.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising removing the first fluid reservoir from the system.

36. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

removing the first tool head from the system;

attaching a fourth tool head, chosen from a variety of possible tool heads, to the first coupling as part of the system, the fourth tool head containing a fourth indicium;

positioning the system so that the fourth tool head is in contact with the work surface; and

moving the system along the work surface to effect the fourth treatment.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising removing the first fluid reservoir from the system.