Cleaning device

• US 7,055,204 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Butler Home Products LLC (Bradshaw International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: The Evercare Company
• Inventors: Ajluni, Sherry
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): KARLS, SHAY LYNN
• Application Number:
  US10/386,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20040177461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 151/21, 151/441, 151/442, 152/201, 152/28, 152/31, 152/32, 152/45
• US Class Current: 15/121
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 1/06 Hand implements with built-in electric motors A47L1/05
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/06 reversible or adjustable for position

Abstract

A cleaning device having a support pad with a planar side and a side opposed to the planar side. An electrostatic cleaning sheet is detachably secured across the planar side of the pad. An elongated arm is secured at one end to the opposed side of the support pad. An elongated handle has one end secured to the other end of the arm by a locking joint which selectively locks the handle to the arm at a plurality of predetermined angular positions. A rubber blade which forms a squeegee is also secured to the opposed side of the support pad.

Claims

1. A cleaning device comprising:

a support pad having a planar side and a side opposed to said planar side,

said support pad having means for detachably securing a cleaning sheet across said planar side,

an elongated arm pivotally secured about two axes at one end to said opposed side of said support pad,

an elongated handle,

one end of said handle being secured to one end of said arm,

a squeegee secured to said opposed side of said support pad

means for selectively locking said one end of said arm to said support pad at at least two predetermined pivotal positions, and

wherein said selective locking means comprises an outwardly extending flange on said arm, said flange being resiliently received in a recess on said support pad when said arm is in either of said predetermined pivotal positions to thereby lock said arm to said support pad against movement relative to one of said axes, and wherein said selective locking means further comprises at least two additional recesses in said support pad, one recess receiving a portion of said arm when said arm is in one of said predetermined positions and the other recess receiving said portion of said arm when said arm is in the other of said predetermined positions to thereby lock said arm to said support pad against movement relative to the other of said axes.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 and comprising means for securing and locking one end of said handle to a second end of said arm at any of a plurality of predetermined pivotal positions of said handle relative to said arm.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said locking and securing means comprises:

an annular arm hub having a throughbore and attached to said second end of said arm,

a pair of annular handle hubs at least one of which has a throughbore and attached to said one end of said handle, said handle hubs being disposed on opposite sides of said arm hub so that said at least one handle hub throughbore and said arm hub throughbore register with each other,

said arm hub having at least one slot open to said arm hub throughbore,

at least one of said handle hubs having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots open to said handle hub throughbore,

at least one button mounted to one of said handle hubs and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, each slot having at least one locking tab slidably mounted in said arm hub slot and said handle hub slot,

wherein with said button in said retracted position, said locking tab is wholly positioned in said arm hub slot thereby enabling said arm and said handle to pivot relative to each other,

with said button in said extended position, a portion of said locking tab is positioned in both said arm hub slot and said handle slot thereby pivotally locking said arm and said handle together.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 and comprising a spring for urging said button towards said retracted position.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said at least one locking tab comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced locking tabs, said at least one arm hub slot comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots, each tab being aligned with one slot in said arm hub.

6. The invention as defined in claim 3 and comprising a second button substantially identical to said first mentioned button, said second button being movably mounted to the other handle hub.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 and comprising a compression spring disposed between said buttons.

8. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said arm and said arm hub is of a one-piece plastic construction.

9. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said handle and said handle hubs are of a one-piece plastic construction.

10. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said at least one button comprises an outwardly extending snap tab, said snap tab engaging an abutment surface on said handle hub to secure said button to said handle hub.

11. The invention as defined in claim 1 and comprising means for pivotally securing said one end of said arm to said opposed side of said support pad.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein said pivotal securing means further comprises means for pivotally securing said one end of said arm to said opposed side of said support pad about two perpendicular axes.

13. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said detachable securing means comprises a plurality of inserts secured to said opposed side of said support pad, said inserts being constructed of a resilient material and having an erose cut extending therethrough.