Cleaning apparatus with flexible connection between head and handle

• US 7,281,288 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2003
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hartz Mountain Corporation (Unicharm Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hartz Mountain Corporation (Unicharm Corporation)
• Inventors: McKay, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Gary K
• Application Number:
  US10/672,912
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 151/442, 151/441, 151/72, 152/301.1, 152/31, 152/296, 151/040.02, 492/13, 492/19, 161/101, 164/30, 169/00
• US Class Current: 15/144.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 25/005 using adhesive or tacky surfaces to remove dirt, e.g. lint removers
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/02 flexible hammers heads having shock-absorbing means B25D1/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 16/90 Handle with angularly adjustable component

Abstract

An improved cleaning tool is provided with a flexible connection between the head or spindle and the handle. The improved tool broadly includes a spindle or head, a handle and a flexible connection between the head and handle to permit relative pivotal movement therebetween and rubber bumpers to protect against scratching furniture. The flexible connection regulates relative movement between the spindle head in such a way that lateral movement is greater than the up and down movement.

Claims

1. A cleaning apparatus comprising:

a handle;

a head coupled to the handle and including an upper arm and a side arm;

a spindle carried by the head;

at least one cleaning element carried on the spindle;

a reinforcing member having one end fixed in the upper arm and the other end projecting laterally inwardly from said side arm and received in said spindle; and

a flexible connector between the handle and the head permitting more movement of the handle relative to the head in a first direction than in a substantially perpendicular second direction.

2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the flexible connector is coupled to a shaft that connects the head to the handle.

3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the handle and the head define a first plane, the flexible portion permitting more movement of the handle relative to the head in the first plane than in a second mutually exclusive, angularly disposed plane.

4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 3, wherein the flexible connector comprises:

a plurality of spaced apart segments.

5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a mass of resilient material disposed about the folds.

6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the spindle has a circular cross-section.

7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the handle is releasably connected to the shaft.

8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

mating threads formed in the handle and the shaft.

9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

resilient material carried on the handle.

10. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

resilient material carried on the head.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one resilient insert is mounted on both the upper and side arms of the head.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said other end of said reinforcing member projects laterally inwardly from the side arm in a direction that is parallel to the upper arm.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a shaft coupled to the upper arm for releasably connecting the handle to the head.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spindle includes a cartridge having first and second ends joined by a plurality of longitudinally extending strips.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said cleaning element is mounted on the cartridge.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spindle has first and second end caps with one of said end caps having an opening through which said other end of said reinforcing member extends.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the spindle has an interior bearing member for rotatably receiving said second end of said reinforcing member.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spindle is capable of bi-directional rotation.