Versatile cleaning devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10575703-B2
Application number	US-201514985486-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2015
Priority date	Apr 29, 2015
Publication date	Mar 3, 2020
Grant date	Mar 3, 2020

Abstract

A versatile cleaning device is provided that can be easily configured for a number of different cleaning tasks and in a number of different positions. The device allows the user to change and/or replace to the cleaning head and/or the cleaning member carried by the head. The device allows the user to change a first angle between the handle and the extension arm via a pivot assembly. Further, the device allows the user to secure the handle to an extension device for greater reach and cleaning range. Accordingly, the cleaning device allows for even increased reach and cleaning range, as well as allowing the device to be folded for easy and compact storage/shipping.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A versatile cleaning device, comprising:
a handle defining a first axis;
an extension arm defining a second axis and having a first attaching feature;
a first cleaning head having a second attaching feature on a first end, the first and second attaching features being configured to removably secure the first cleaning head to the extension arm, the first cleaning head having a first cleaning member;
a second cleaning head having a third attaching feature on a second end, the first and third attaching features being configured to removably secure the second cleaning head to the extension arm, the second cleaning head having a second cleaning member, the second cleaning member being different than the first cleaning member; and
a pivot assembly securing the handle and extension arm to one another for rotational movement about a pivot axis among a first position, at least one intermediate position, and a second position, the pivot assembly having a release button configured to selectively allow or prevent movement among the first, intermediate, and second positions,
wherein the first position is configured so that first and second axes are perpendicular to one another, the second position is configured so that the first and second axes are parallel to but offset from one another, and the first and second positions are offset from one another by at least 270 degrees.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the extension arm comprises one or more bends along the second axis.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first cleaning member is a crevice duster and the second cleaning member is a feather duster.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the handle and a portion of the pivot assembly are integrally formed and/or the extension arm and another portion of the pivot assembly are integrally formed.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a free end opposite to the pivot assembly, the free end being configured to removably receive an extension device.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the extension arm comprises one or more bends along the second axis.

7. A versatile cleaning device, comprising:
a handle defining a first axis;
an extension arm defining a second axis;
a head attaching assembly configured to removably secure an end portion of a plurality of cleaning heads to the extension arm, each of the plurality of cleaning heads having a different cleaning member; and
a pivot assembly securing the handle and extension arm to one another for rotational movement about a pivot axis among a first position, at least one intermediate position, and a second position, wherein the first position is configured so that first and second axes are perpendicular to one another, wherein the second position is configured so that the first and second axes are parallel to and offset from one another,
wherein the plurality of cleaning heads includes a first cleaning head removably secured to the extension arm, and
wherein the head attaching assembly comprises a first feature and the first cleaning head comprises a second feature on the end portion, one of the first and second features comprising a release button and the other of the first and second features comprising opening sufficient to removably receive the release button to allow the user to removably secure the first cleaning head and the head attaching assembly to one another and separate the first cleaning head and the head attaching assembly from one another,
wherein the head attachment assembly defines a third axis, the third axis being on an angle relative to the second axis;
the first position is on a first side of the handle;
the second position is on a second side of the handle; and
the first position and the second position are offset from one another by at least 270 degrees.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the handle and a portion of the pivot assembly are integrally formed and/or the extension arm and another portion of the pivot assembly are integrally formed.

9. The device of claim 7 , wherein the handle comprises a free end opposite to the pivot assembly, the free end being configured to removably receive an extension device.

10. The device of claim 7 , wherein the extension arm comprises one or more bends along the second axis.

11. The device of claim 7 , wherein the release button comprises a lead in configured to bias the release button until the release button is aligned with the opening during connecting of the first cleaning head and the extension arm, at which time the release button returns to a normal state under its own resilience.

12. The device of claim 7 , wherein the pivot assembly comprises:
a first housing formed as part of or connected to one of the handle and the extension arm;
a second housing formed as part of or connected to the other one of the handle and the extension arm;
a gear lock positioned in the first and second housings for sliding movement along the pivot axis, the first and second housings and the gear lock all have a corresponding number of teeth, respectively, the gear lock having a width that is less than or equal to a depth of the second housing so that the gear lock can slide along the pivot axis into the second housing with the teeth of the gear lock being engaged with only the teeth of the second housing;
a biasing member in one of the first and second housings, the biasing member normally biasing the gear lock to a position in which the teeth of the gear lock are engaged with the teeth of both the first and second housings to lock the pivot assembly in position against rotation about the pivot axis; and
a release button positioned in and extending from one of the first and second housings, the release button abutting the gear lock so that a pressure applied to the release button over comes the biasing force of the bias member and slides the gear lock along the pivot axis into the second housing to unlock the pivot assembly for rotation about the pivot axis.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the biasing member, after release of the pressure, slides the gear lock back into the first housing so that the teeth of the gear lock are engaged with the teeth of both the first and second housings.

14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the biasing member comprises a compression spring.

15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the number of teeth are configured so that the at least one intermediate position comprises a plurality of positions.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of positions comprises positional increments with respect to one another of every 30 degrees.

17. The device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of cleaning heads comprise a head selected from the group consisting of a delicate duster, a crevice duster, and feather duster.

18. The device of claim 7 , wherein the each of the plurality of cleaning heads structurally supports the respective cleaning member.

19. The device of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of cleaning heads include a delicate duster, a crevice duster and a feather duster.

Assignees

• Unger Marketing Int Llc

Inventors

• Harrington William
• Buckley James M
• Smith Robert F

Classifications

• A47L13/38

  Other dusting implements {(using adhesive surfaces A47L25/005)} · CPC title

• A47L13/258 Primary

  of adjustable or foldable type · CPC title

• B25G3/18

  comprising catches or pawls · CPC title

• B25G1/06 Primary

  reversible or adjustable for position · CPC title