US20080066250A1 - Dusting and Cleaning Device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a cleaning device comprising of a shaft with two or more apertures. The shaft also has two or more slits. The user will place one or more pieces of fabric through the two apertures and then pulled through the slits. This severs to provide a user with a taut piece of fabric along the shaft to be used for cleaning. The user is then able to apply pressure to the cleaning fabric via the shaft to the area being cleaned.

Description

BACKGROUND
• 1. Field of the Invention
• The invention relates to tools that employ paper towels, cloths, flexible materials designed for cleaning and/or other suitable fabric in the art of cleaning.
• 2. Description of the Prior Art
• In today's households, many people employ cleaning devices that aid in using fabrics for cleaning and dusting. These cleaning devices allow the user to apply the cleaning fabric to the soiled area without having to awkwardly bend over to scrub the floor or use a stool to reach the ceiling. For example if one were to employ a fabric to clean the floor without such a cleaning device, that person would have to either bend over or get down on their hands and knees to clean the soiled floor. However, recent cleaning devices now allow the user to apply the cleaning fabric to the floor and other areas out of the users' reach.
• Many of these cleaning devices require that the user purchase specific disposable fabric sheets to employ the device. These sheets can be much more expensive than just ordinary paper towels. They also do not provide for use of non-disposable cloths or ordinary rags. These cleaning devices do not allow for those who are environmentally conscious to use the devices, they cause more cost to the consumer and they are responsible for harm to the environment in the form of increased waste.
• Many of theses devices are also of relatively complicated design with many moving parts. Manufacturing of the individual parts and assembling those parts into the final product takes time and increases cost. More parts of a device, moving and non-moving, increase the chances of malfunction. An increase in complexity comes with a decrease in reliability.
• The current invention alleviates the stated deficiencies of the prior art. The invention allows users to employ paper towels, fabrics, non-disposable cloths and any fabric suitable for cleaning for dusting and cleaning without having to bend over to reach the floor or stand on a stool to reach the ceiling. It is also of simple design and operation, saving both time and money during manufacturing and use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• A cleaning device comprises of a shaft. The shaft comprises a hollow section and a lower end with a rim. The rim defines an opening at the proximate end of the shaft, and the opening is located about the longitudinal axis and is in communication with the hollow section. The shaft also has one or more apertures that extend through the side of the shaft and are in communication with said hollow section. The apertures maybe in direct communication with one of the one or more slits. The slit(s) run parallel to the longitudinal axis and may terminate before reaching the rim.
• The design of the cleaning device allows the user to secure any fabric or cleaning material in the device and use that fabric or cleaning material for cleaning with greater ease than devices of the prior art. It enables the user to clean without having to apply pressure with their hands, lean over or reach up to get to spaces, use non disposable rags and/or have to purchase specific designed cleaning materials.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention where the fabric is twisted and inserted through the bottom and locked in place solely by the frictional engagement with the projections.
• FIG. 2 shows an embodiment that employs a sleeve, in addition to the projections, help secure the fabric.
• FIG. 3 shows one side of another embodiment designed to secure two ends of the fabric.
• FIGS. 4 and 4ashow different designs for the reverse side of theFIG. 3.
• FIG. 5 shows how the fabric maybe secured in a taut position.
• FIG. 6 shows an embodiment with fanning slits.
• FIG. 7 shows fabric using the fanning slits.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• An embodiment of the invention is shown inFIG. 1. The embodiment has ashaft1 with ahandle end10 for having a handle (not shown) and anopen end6 for receivingfabric7. The open end is defined by the rim ofshaft1. Theshaft1 is at least hollow from theopen end6 to the twoapertures2 and3. Theshaft1 also has one or more slits, illustrated asreference numeral4, that run down the sides of theshaft1 from theapertures2 and3 toward theopen end6 for a length9. At least one of theapertures2 and3 has aslit4. The slit(s)4 may have projections5 that are used to help secure the twisted end8 of thefabric7.Fabric7 can include, but is not limited to: paper towels; terry cloths, rags, flexible materials designed for cleaning; wet wipes; any flexible material suitable for cleaning; or any combination thereof.
• Another embodiment is shown inFIG. 2. This embodiment is closely related to that shown inFIG. 1, and the like parts are labeled as such. The difference between the two embodiments is the sleeve11. The sleeve11 will slide over lower part of the shaft after the fabric is inserted through theopen end6, through anaperture2 or3 and pulled down through aslit4 and between the projections5. The sleeve's11 diameter will be larger than that of the lower part of theshaft1 so that it will slide over the lower part of theshaft1 and the twisted end8 of thefabric7. When the sleeve11 is slid into the secured position, over the twisted end8, it will further help secure the fabric to theshaft1. The sleeve11 can either slide completely off theshaft1 or be designed in such a way that it can move along the shaft but prevent from coming entirely off. The sleeve11 may also comprise of one or more parts that are secured about the shaft by any suitable means.
• The sleeve11 will be in the secured position when a portion of the sleeve11 is secured over a portion of the aperture(s),2 and/or3, and/or over a portion of the slit(s)4. The sleeve11 can be secured by frictional engagement and/or mechanical means.
• While the sleeve11 is shown as having a conical end, any shape that will serve spread out and/or apply pressure to thefabric7 when cleaning is contemplated. The sleeve11 can be flexible or ridged, designed to fit specific applications such as cleaning corners and/or designed to spread out the pressure applied to thefabric7. The sleeve11 may also have a joint and a section that pivots about that joint.
• Theslits4 andapertures2 and3 are shown inFIG. 1 andFIG. 2 to be on both sides of the shaft. However it is hereby disclosed that the embodiments can have two apertures and one slit or one aperture and one slit. Also, while it is shown in the figures that theslit4 has projections, it is hereby disclosed that many means can be used to secure the twisted end8 of the fabric8. Those means include but not limited to projections that are jagged, a slit that starts to narrow at a certain point, a slit with a constant width, projections that are offset or any combination thereof.
• In operation of the invention, the user will first select one or more sheets offabric7. For explanation purposes, the use of multiple paper towels will be discussed here with the embodiment shown inFIG. 2. The user would align the paper towels how they choose and then twist the sheets into a point as shown as the twisted end8. The user would then push the twisted end8 through theopen end6 so that the twisted end8 would reach theapertures2 and3. The user would then push and/or pull the twisted end8 through theapertures2 and3. The user may then pull the twisted end8 up in order to pullmore fabric7 through the open end to increase the thickness of the cloth in the slit(s)4. The user would then pull the twisted end8 down through theslit4 and pass the projections5 so that the twisted end8 would then become secure. The user would then move the sleeve11 to the secured position, over the twisted end8, to help secure the twisted end8 of thefabric7. The invention is then ready to use.
• When the user wants to change out the paper towels, the user first slides the sleeve11 out of the secured position, pulls up the twisted end8 up through the projections5 and theslit4, and then pulls the twisted end8, by the lower end of thefabric7, back through thelower end6. The user would then replace thefabric7 and repeat the steps above.
• In another embodiment with a sleeve11, the sleeve will spread out and apply pressure to thefabric7. For example, if the user where to use the cleaning device to clean the floor, the sleeve would spread out thefabric7 and increase the area upon which force is being applied to the floor. This will increase the cleaning effectiveness of the device and help prevent tearing of thefabric7.
• When using a long version of the cleaning device, the user can use it to clean the floor or ceiling fans. When using a shorter version the user can use it to clean the tub or toilet. The uses of the cleaning device of various lengths and angles are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art and within the sprit of the invention.
• In another embodiment of the invention thefabric7 will be secured at two different locations. Referring toFIGS. 3-5, a shaft with an openedend6 is shown.FIG. 3 shows the a first side of the embodiment andFIGS. 4 and 4ashow alternative designs for the opposite side. The first side,FIG. 3, shows aslit4 with projections5 and anaperture2. The second side,FIG. 4 and in the alternativeFIG. 4a, shows aslit4 and an aperture3. Theslit4 may or may not intersect with the aperture3. The slit may or may not have projections5 (shown inFIG. 4a) or maybe of a constant or varying width as disclosed above. Any combination of slit length, shape with or without projections is hereby contemplated. This embodiment can have a handle that is transverse or along theshaft1. This embodiment may or may not have a hollow end. At the veryleast slit4 must extend through the shaft.
• This embodiment allows for thefabric7 to be secured at two separate locations. For the purposes of this example we will use multiple paper towels placed on top of one another and thefabric7 and formed to have a twisted end8. Once the twisted end8 is inserted through the aperture3 and out ofaperture2, thefabric7 is drawn through the apertures to the point the desired resistance it created. The resistance will occur because of the thickness of thefabric7 being pulled through the apertures. The user will then take the twisted end8 (or the unraveled twisted end) and pull it toward theopen end6, leave the desired amount of slack, and either pull the twisted end8 through the slits5 or pull the twisted end below and about theopen end6 and then force thefabric7 through bothslits4 at approximately the same time.
• Referring toFIG. 5, thefabric7 is shown as very taut, but can be of any tension the user so desires. The advantage of having two locations of thefabric7 secured is that it allows for more control of the location of thefabric7 during cleaning. This allows the user to better apply force used in cleaning to the areas that are soiled.
• Another embodiment is shown inFIGS. 6 and 7. This embodiment has fanningslits14 that are not in communication with theapertures2 and3. As shown inFIG. 7, this allows thefabric7 to spread out through the fanningslits14. This allows more of the fabric to be used in the cleaning process by allowing it to start fanning out at a much earlier point that if there where no fanning slits. It also helps keep the fabric fanned out, keeping a defined application surface, by positioning and keeping the fabric in the fanning slits14t. There can be one or more fanningslits14 and can be of any orientation relative to one or more other fanningslits14.
• This embodiment can employ a sleeve11 (not shown) like the one described above. The sleeve for this embodiment can also have slits that correspond to the fanningslits14. The sleeve11 will assist in fanning out thefabric14 and securing the twisted end8 of the fabric. The sleeve can run on a set path so that the fanningslits14 will correspond to the slits in the sleeve.
• The embodiment can also have slits4 (shown in shadow inFIG. 7) in the manner discussed above. Theslits4 may also have projections as discussed above.
• Embodiments with alternative designs for the same identified parts are contemplated to be employed or interchanged with all other embodiments.
• Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and the present invention is intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present invention has been described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, manner of operation, assembly, and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.

Claims (20)

1. A cleaning device comprising:

a shaft with longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft comprises:

two or more apertures that extend through the side of the shaft and are in communication; and

two or more slits.

2. The cleaning device ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one of the two or more slits has one or more projections.

3. The cleaning device ofclaim 1, wherein the device is constructed of plastic, wood, metal, ceramics, recycled materials or any combination thereof.

4. The cleaning device ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more slits have a width of 1 mm or more.

5. The cleaning device ofclaim 1, wherein one or more of the slits narrows at a constant or irregular rate or any combination thereof.

6. The cleaning device ofclaim 1, wherein the apertures are circular, oblong, square or any geometric shape that is capable of accepting a finger to be inserted therethrough.

7. The cleaning device ofclaim 1, wherein the cleaning device is capable of accepting a twisted end of one or more pieces of paper towels, wet wipes, cloth, or any flexible material suitable or designed for cleaning through two of the apertures, and then through one or more of the slits.

8. The cleaning device ofclaim 2, wherein the one or more projections are wavy, irregular, offset, teeth like or any combination thereof.

9. The cleaning device ofclaim 1, wherein the shaft is circular, oblong, square or any geometric shape and size that is capable of accepting a twisted end of one or more pieces of paper towels, cloth, or any flexible material suitable or designed for cleaning through the two apertures.

10. The cleaning device ofclaim 1, wherein the cleaning device has a handle that is attached to the shaft and set at an angle to the shaft.

11. The cleaning device ofclaim 10, wherein the angle is zero degrees.

12. The cleaning device ofclaim 10, wherein the angle is ninety degrees.

13. The cleaning device ofclaim 10, wherein the angle is less than ninety degrees and more than zero degrees.

14. The cleaning device ofclaim 10 wherein the angle is greater than ninety degrees but less than or equal to one hundred and eighty degrees.

15. The cleaning device ofclaim 10, wherein the handle and the shaft are capable of movement relative to one another.

16. The cleaning device ofclaim 10, wherein the handle is attached to one end of the shaft, then is angled at ninety degrees, then angled in the direction of the center of the shaft, then angled back so that the remainder of the handle would transversely intersect the shaft.

17. The cleaning device ofclaim 10, wherein the handle is attached to one end of the shaft.

18. The cleaning device ofclaim 10, wherein the handle is attached in between the ends of the shaft.

19. The cleaning device ofclaim 7, wherein the shaft is capable of applying pressure to the one or more pieces of paper towels, wet wipes, cloth, or any flexible material suitable or designed for cleaning to a surface to be cleaned.

20. The cleaning device ofclaim 1 wherein one of the slits is in communication with one of the apertures and one of the slits is not in communication with one of the aperture.

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