Cleaning device having plural and customizable cleaning surfaces

• US 8,834,055 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2013
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Uchiyama, Hirotaka, Daniel, Mimi Gizaw, Bradbury, Glenn Allen, Schuller, David William, Wells, Agnes Elaine, Borman, Michelle Lynn, Dubas, Aaron Fredrick, Shafer, Adam Robert-George
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILJANEN, JOSHUA R
• Application Number:
  US14/013,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20130340186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 401 23- 27, 401/39, 401/134, 401/135, 401137-140, 401/145, 401/167, 401/180, 401/266, 401/268, 401/270, 151/14, 151/431, 151/591
• US Class Current: 401/270
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0017 with pre-pressurised reservoirs, e.g. aerosols
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0041 Flexible or deformable reservoirs, e.g. resilient bulbs, compressible tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0075 Means integral with the brush for opening, puncturing or piercing sealed reservoirs, e.g. on insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/30 Brushes for cleaning or polishing
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/0058 Mechanical joint or hinge made up of several components
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 5/02 specially shaped for holding by the hand
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/005 where the brushing material is not made of bristles, e.g. sponge, rubber or paper
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/26 Other cleaning devices with liquid supply arrangements such arrangements on floor-polishing machines A47L11/00, on scrapers A47L13/03, on mops A47L13/22; cloths, pads, or the like containing cleaning agents A47L13/17, A47L13/19

Abstract

A device for cleaning debris from a target surface. The device has a sole plate with permanent bristles and a removable/replaceable pad. The device also has a replaceable, on-board supply of cleanser. The pad/cleanser may be replaced when depleted and replaced with a new pad/cleanser or may simply be replaced with a new pad/cleanser when that pad/cleanser is more suitable for a particular cleaning task.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning debris from a target surface and having a longitudinal centerline, said device comprising:

a sole plate having a top and a bottom generally opposed thereto, said bottom of said sole plate comprising a cleaning material permanently attached thereto and extending outwardly therefrom and further comprising a space for receiving a removable pad thereon, said device further comnrising a generally planer pad removably installed in said space on the bottom of said sole plate wherein said planar pad has an outwardly facing surface and comprises one of a nonwoven cover or a microfiber cover thereon;

a receptacle for receiving a cleanser or a container of cleanser therein, said receptacle being joined to and substantially overlying said sole plate; and

a manual actuator for dispensing cleanser from the container, through a nozzle and onto the target surface forwardly of said sole plate.

2. A device according to claim 1 having a handle wherein said handle is hollow and structured to receive cleanser therein.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle is disposed on said longitudinal centerline.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said nozzle forwardly sprays said cleanser in a fan pattern.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said receptacle is shaped to receive a complementary cylindrically shaped container of cleanser.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said receptacle is shaped to receive said cylindrically shaped container coincident said longitudinal axis and parallel to said bottom of said sole plate.

7. A device for cleaning debris from a target surface, said device comprising:

a sole plate having a top and a bottom generally opposed thereto, said bottom of said sole plate comprising bristles permanently attached thereto and extending outwardly therefrom, and further comprising a space for a pad to be removably attached to the bottom of said sole plate,

a handle integrally joined to said sole plate;

a receptacle having an aerosol container of cleanser within said handle, said receptacle being at least partially disposed within said handle and substantially overlying said sole plate, whereby a user can press said handle to apply compressive force to a pad disposed on said sole plate; and

a manual actuator for dispensing cleanser from said container, through a nozzle and onto the target surface.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein a plurality of said bristles are peripherally disposed about said bottom of said sole plate.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of bristles extends outwardly from said bottom of said sole plate in acute non-perpendicular angular relationship relative to said bottom of said sole plate, to a vertex, said vertex being suitable for cleaning a corner.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein said aerosol container has a plastic body and volume less than or equal to 250 ml.

11. A device according to claim 10 further comprising a pad joined to said bottom of said sole plate, said device weighing less than 750 grams with said pad and said cleanser installed.

12. A device according to claim 9 further comprising a pad disposed on said bottom of said sole plate and having a step differential between said bristles and said pad.

13. A device for cleaning debris from a target surface having a longitudinal axis, said device comprising:

a sole plate having atop and a bottom generally opposed thereto, said bottom of said sole plate comprising a space for removably receiving a cleaning pad thereon;

a handle rigidly joined to said top of said sole plate and having a top remote from said sole plate, whereby a user can press said handle to apply compressive force to a pad disposed on said sole plate;

a receptacle for removably receiving a longitudinally oriented aerosol container of cleanser therein, said receptacle being disposed intermediate the top of said sole plate and said top of said handle, said container substantially overlapping said sole plate when received in said receptacle, wherein said longitudinally oriented aerosol container is received on said longitudinal axis parallel to and offset from said bottom of said sole plate and at least a portion of said aerosol container overlies said bottom of said sole plate when disposed in said receptacle; and

a forwardly disposed pushbutton actuator, said actuator being juxtaposed with said receptacle for opening a valve in said aerosol container to dispense cleanser from said container in response to actuation by a user, said cleanser being then forwardly dispensed through a nozzle and onto the target surface forwardly of said sole plate.

14. A device according to claim 13 wherein said receptacle removably receives said longitudinally oriented aerosol container by forwardly sliding said aerosol container into said receptacle in the longitudinal direction, whereby said aerosol container is intermediate said bottom of said sole plate and the top of said handle.

15. A device according to claim 13 wherein said pushbutton actuator is disposed on said handle.