Cleaning implements, cleaning material components, and related methods

• US 8,662,781 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2011
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher C. Sappenfield
• Original Assignee: Christopher C. Sappenfield
• Inventors: Sappenfield, Christopher C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILJANEN, JOSHUA R
• Application Number:
  US13/072,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20110232013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 401/21, 401/22, 401/27, 401/137, 401/138, 401/139
• US Class Current: 401/270
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/00 Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4047 Wound-up or endless cleaning belts
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops

Abstract

The invention provides cleaning implements that include head components comprising cleaning surface components and cleaning material support components. The cleaning material support components typically include cleaning material receiving areas that communicate with the cleaning surface components. Cleaning material receiving areas are generally configured to receive cleaning materials that are movable to and/or from the cleaning material receiving areas to extend over at least portions of the cleaning surface components. The invention also provides cleaning material components that include cleaning material support structures and cleaning materials. Related methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement, comprising at least one head component that comprises at least two cleaning material support components and at least one cleaning surface component, wherein the cleaning material support components each comprise at least one cleaning material support component surface that at least partially defines at least one cleaning implement cartridge receiving area, wherein the cleaning material support components each comprise at least one opening such that the cleaning implement cartridge receiving areas communicate with the cleaning surface component, and wherein the cleaning implement cartridge receiving areas of the cleaning material support components are configured to receive at least a component of at least one cleaning implement cartridge comprising cleaning material such that at least a portion of the cleaning material is movable to and/or from the cleaning implement cartridge receiving areas to extend over at least a portion of the cleaning surface component when the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving areas.

2. The cleaning implement of claim 1, comprising an operably connected robot body structure.

3. The cleaning implement of claim 1, comprising at least one positioning mechanism component that is configured to selectively position the cleaning material at least relative to at least one of the cleaning material support components when at least the portion of the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving areas.

4. The cleaning implement of claim 1, comprising at least one retaining component that is configured to substantially retain the cleaning implement cartridge at a selected position relative to at least one of the cleaning material support components when at least the portion of the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving areas.

5. The cleaning implement of claim 1, comprising at least one retaining mechanism that is configured to substantially retain the cleaning material at a selected position relative to the cleaning surface component when at least the portion of the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving areas and the cleaning material extends over at least the portion of the cleaning surface component.

6. The cleaning implement of claim 1, comprising at least the portion of the cleaning implement cartridge at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving areas of the cleaning material support components.

7. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the cleaning surface component comprises at least one elevational element.

8. The cleaning implement of claim 1, comprising at least one handle operably connected to the head component.

9. The cleaning implement of claim 8, wherein the handle is pivotally connected to the head component via at least one pivot mechanism.

10. The cleaning implement of claim 1, comprising at least one conveyance mechanism, or at least one component thereof, that is configured to convey at least the cleaning material over at least a portion of the cleaning surface component when at least the portion of the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving areas.

11. The cleaning implement of claim 10, wherein the conveyance mechanism is manually operated via at least one manual conveyance component.

12. The cleaning implement of claim 10, wherein the conveyance mechanism or the component thereof is configured to operably engage the cleaning implement cartridge to effect conveyance of the cleaning material when at least the portion of the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving areas.

13. The cleaning implement of claim 10, wherein the conveyance mechanism is configured to convey the cleaning material at least one selected incremental distance.

14. The cleaning implement of claim 10, wherein the conveyance mechanism comprises one or more gear components.

15. The cleaning implement of claim 10, wherein the conveyance mechanism comprises at least one motor component that is configured to effect conveyance of the cleaning material when at least the portion of the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving areas.

16. The cleaning implement of claim 10, comprising at least one fluid handling mechanism or at least one component thereof that is configured to convey at least one fluid from at least one fluid source to at least one fluid outlet.

17. The cleaning implement of claim 16, wherein the fluid outlet communicates with the cleaning implement cartridge or a portion thereof when at least the portion of the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving areas.

18. The cleaning implement of claim 16, wherein the fluid outlet is disposed proximal to at least one surface of the head component.

19. The cleaning implement of claim 16, wherein the fluid outlet comprises at least one nozzle.

20. The cleaning implement of claim 16, wherein the fluid handling mechanism comprises at least one pumping mechanism that is configured to pump the fluid from the fluid source to the fluid outlet.

21. The cleaning implement of claim 16, wherein the fluid handling mechanism comprises at least one vaporization component that is configured to vaporize the fluid at least proximal to the fluid outlet.

22. The cleaning implement of claim 16, wherein the fluid source and fluid outlet communicate via at least one fluid conduit.

23. The cleaning implement of claim 16, wherein the fluid source comprises at least one fluid container.

24. The cleaning implement of claim 23, wherein the fluid container is removable.

25. A cleaning implement cartridge, comprising at least two housings and at least one cleaning material, wherein each housing comprises at least one housing surface that at least partially defines a cavity, wherein each housing comprises at least one orifice that communicates with the cavity, wherein the cleaning material is at least partially disposed in the cavity of each housing such that the cleaning material is movable to and/or from each housing, wherein at least a portion of each housing is configured to be received in a cleaning implement cartridge receiving area of a cleaning implement, and wherein the cleaning material is configured to extend over at least a portion of a cleaning surface component of the cleaning implement when each housing is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area of the cleaning implement.

26. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 25, comprising at east one conveyance mechanism or at least one component thereof.

27. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 25, wherein the cleaning material is moistened with at least one fluid.

28. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 25, comprising at least one positioning mechanism component that is configured to selectively position the cleaning material relative to the housings and/or the cleaning implement.

29. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 25, wherein the housings and/or the cleaning material comprises at least one alignment component that is configured to align the cleaning material relative to the housings.

30. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 25, wherein each housing comprises at least one alignment feature that is structured to align the housing and the cleaning implement relative to one another when the housing is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area of the cleaning implement.

31. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 25, wherein the cleaning material comprises at least one absorbent material.

32. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 25, wherein the cleaning material comprises at least one cleaning material sheet.

33. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 32, wherein the cleaning material sheet is at least partially segmented.

34. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 32, wherein the cleaning material sheet is substantially continuous.

35. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 25, wherein the cleaning material comprises at least one cleaning material roll.

36. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 35, wherein the cleaning material roll is at least partially segmented.

37. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 35, wherein the cleaning material roll is substantially continuous.

38. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 35, wherein the housings and/or cleaning material roll comprises at least one alignment component that is configured to align the cleaning material roll relative to the housings.

39. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 38, wherein the alignment component comprises a rod that extends at least partially within the cavity.

40. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 39, wherein the rod and/or the cleaning material roll comprises at least one positioning component that is configured to position the rod and the cleaning material roll relative to one another.

41. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 39, wherein the rod extends through at least a portion of at least one of the housings and operably connects, or is operably connectable, to at least one conveyance mechanism or at least one component thereof.

42. The cleaning implement cartridge of claim 39, wherein the cleaning material roll is configured to rotate in a substantially fixed position relative to the rod.

43. A cleaning implement, comprising at least one head component that comprises at least one cleaning material support component and at least one cleaning surface component, wherein the cleaning material support component comprises at least one cleaning material support component surface that at least partially defines at least one cleaning implement cartridge receiving area, wherein the cleaning material support component comprises at least one opening such that the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area communicates with the cleaning surface component, and wherein the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area is configured to receive at least one cleaning implement cartridge comprising cleaning material such that at least a portion of the cleaning material is movable to and/or from the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area to extend over at least a portion of the cleaning surface component when the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area, and wherein the cleaning implement comprises at least one conveyance mechanism, or at least one component thereof, that is configured to convey at least the cleaning material over at least the portion of the cleaning surface component when the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area.

44. The cleaning implement of claim 43, comprising an operably connected robot body structure.

45. The cleaning of claim 43, comprising at least one positioning mechanism component that is configured to selectively position the cleaning material at least relative to the cleaning material support component when the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area.

46. The cleaning implement of claim 43, comprising at least two cleaning material support components that are each configured to receive at least a component of the cleaning implement cartridge.

47. The cleaning implement of claim 43, comprising at least one retaining component that is configured to substantially retain the cleaning implement cartridge at a selected position relative to the cleaning material support component when the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area.

48. The cleaning implement of claim 43, comprising at least one retaining mechanism that is configured to substantially retain the cleaning material at a selected position relative to the cleaning surface component when the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area and the cleaning material extends over at least the portion of the cleaning surface component.

49. The cleaning implement of claim 43, comprising the cleaning implement cartridge at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area of the cleaning material support component.

50. The cleaning implement of claim 43, wherein the cleaning surface component comprises at least one elevational element.

51. The cleaning implement of claim 43, comprising at least one handle operably connected to the head component.

52. The cleaning implement of claim 51, wherein the handle is pivotally connected to the head component via at least one pivot mechanism.

53. The cleaning implement of claim 43, wherein the conveyance mechanism is manually operated via at least one manual conveyance component.

54. The cleaning implement of claim 43, wherein the conveyance mechanism or the component thereof is configured to operably engage the cleaning implement cartridge to effect conveyance of the cleaning material when the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area.

55. The cleaning implement of claim 43, wherein the conveyance mechanism is configured to convey the cleaning material at least one selected incremental distance.

56. The cleaning implement of claim 43, wherein the conveyance mechanism comprises one or more gear components.

57. The cleaning implement of claim 43, wherein the conveyance mechanism comprises at least one motor component that is configured to effect conveyance of the cleaning material when the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area.

58. The cleaning implement of claim 43, comprising at least one fluid handling mechanism or at least one component thereof that is configure to convey at least one fluid from at least one fluid source to at least one fluid outlet.

59. The cleaning implement of claim 58, wherein the fluid outlet communicates with the cleaning implement cartridge or a portion thereof when the cleaning implement cartridge is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area.

60. The cleaning implement of claim 58, wherein the fluid outlet is disposed proximal to at least one surface of the head component.

61. The cleaning of claim 58, wherein the fluid outlet comprises at least one nozzle.

62. The cleaning implement of claim 58, wherein the fluid handling mechanism comprises at least one pumping mechanism that is configured to the pump fluid from the fluid source to the fluid outlet.

63. The cleaning implement of claim 58, wherein the fluid handling mechanism comprises at least one vaporization component that is configured to vaporize the fluid at least proximal to the fluid outlet.

64. The cleaning implement of claim 58, wherein the fluid source and fluid outlet communicate via at least one fluid conduit.

65. The cleaning implement of claim 58, wherein the fluid source comprises at least one fluid container.

66. The cleaning implement of claim 58, wherein the fluid container is removable.

67. A cleaning implement cartridge, comprising at least one housing and at least one cleaning material, wherein the housing comprises at least one housing surface that at least partially defines a cavity, wherein the housing comprises at least one orifice that communicates with the cavity, wherein the cleaning material is at least partially disposed in the cavity such that the cleaning material is movable to and/or from the housing, wherein at least a portion of the housing is configured to be received in a cleaning implement cartridge receiving area of a cleaning implement, wherein the cleaning material is configured to extend over at least a portion of a cleaning surface component of the cleaning implement when the housing is at least partially disposed in the cleaning implement cartridge receiving area of the cleaning implement, wherein the cleaning material comprises at least one cleaning material roll, wherein the housing and/or cleaning material roll comprises at least one alignment component that is configured to align the cleaning material roll relative to the housing, wherein the alignment component comprises a rod that extends at least partially within the cavity, and wherein the rod extends through at least a portion of the housing and operably connects, or is operably connectable, to at least one conveyance mechanism at least one component thereof.