Cleaning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10940581-B2
Application number	US-201514736015-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2015
Priority date	Jun 10, 2014
Publication date	Mar 9, 2021
Grant date	Mar 9, 2021

Abstract

A cleaning device having a cleaning head assembly and a handle assembly is provided. The assemblies are removably attached to one another by a locking mechanism that includes a female attachment portion having a receptacle and being affixed to a cleaning head, and a male attachment portion having a locking projection and being affixed to a handle and adapted for removable engagement with the female attachment portion. The locking projection on the male attachment portion is biased to engage the receptacle in the female attachment portion so as to releaseably lock the cleaning head and the handle together.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning device including a cleaning head, a handle, and a locking mechanism for the removable attachment of the cleaning head to the handle, the locking mechanism including:
a female attachment portion affixed to the cleaning head and having a first axially extending cavity extending longitudinally in an insertion direction, and a receptacle extending through a wall of the female attachment portion, wherein an axis extends through the receptacle perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
a male attachment portion having a first end adapted to be received in the first axially extending cavity, a second end, a second axially extending cavity, an inner wall in the second axially extending cavity forming a non-communicating portion that closes an inner end of the second axially extending cavity and serves as a stop, one or more bores extending substantially along a length of the second axially extending cavity from the second end to the inner wall parallel to the second axially extending cavity and opening into the cavity to provide a tolerance for handles having a diameter larger than a diameter of the axially extending cavity, and a locking projection engageable with the receptacle to releaseably lock the male attachment portion to the female attachment portion; and
a cap secured to the male attachment portion,
wherein the handle is disposed in the second axially extending cavity and has an end abutting the stop to prevent over insertion of the handle,
wherein the male attachment portion has a cross-section corresponding to a cross-section of the first axially extending cavity of the female attachment portion that prevents rotation of the handle relative to the cleaning head when engaged, and
wherein the male attachment portion has a first portion configured to be received in the first axially extending cavity, a second portion received in a third axially extending cavity of the cap, and a ledge with a first side configured to abut an end of the female attachment portion when received in the first axially extending cavity and a second side abutted by the cap.

2. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the cap has a first end with a cross-section matching a cross-section of the handle and a second end with a cross-section matching the cross-section of the male attachment portion.

3. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the female and male attachment portions each have corresponding alignment members such that when the alignment members mate, the female and male attachment portions are aligned and relative rotation of the male attachment portion relative to the female attachment portion is restricted.

4. The cleaning device according to claim 3 , wherein the alignment member of the female attachment portion is a groove and the alignment member of the male attachment portion is a projection.

5. The cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the female attachment portion includes a stop for preventing over insertion of the male attachment portion.

6. A cleaning device including a cleaning head, a handle, and a locking mechanism for the removable attachment of the cleaning head to the handle, the locking mechanism including:
a female attachment portion affixed to the cleaning head and having a first axially extending cavity extending longitudinally in an insertion direction, and a receptacle extending through a wall of the female attachment portion, wherein an axis extends through the receptacle perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
a male attachment portion having a first end adapted to be received in the first axially extending cavity, a second end, a second axially extending cavity, an inner wall in the second axially extending cavity forming a non-communicating portion that closes an inner end of the second axially extending cavity and serves as a stop, one or more bores extending substantially along a length of the second axially extending cavity from the second end to the inner wall parallel to the second axially extending cavity and opening into the cavity to provide a tolerance for handles having a diameter larger than a diameter of the axially extending cavity, and a locking projection engageable with the receptacle to releaseably lock the male attachment portion to the female attachment portion; and
a cap secured to the male attachment portion,
wherein the handle is disposed in the second axially extending cavity and has an end abutting the stop to prevent over insertion of the handle,
wherein the male attachment portion has a cross-section corresponding to a cross-section of the first axially extending cavity of the female attachment portion that prevents rotation of the handle relative to the cleaning head when engaged, and
wherein the cap is removably secured to the male attachment portion, and wherein the male attachment portion includes an opening for receiving a fastener to secure the handle and the cap to the male attachment portion.

7. The cleaning device according to claim 6 , wherein the cap has a first end with a cross-section matching a cross-section of the handle and a second end with a cross-section matching the cross-section of the male attachment portion.

8. The cleaning device according to claim 6 , wherein the female and male attachment portions each have corresponding alignment members such that when the alignment members mate, the female and male attachment portions are aligned and relative rotation of the male attachment portion relative to the female attachment portion is restricted.

9. The cleaning device according to claim 8 , wherein the alignment member of the female attachment portion is a groove and the alignment member of the male attachment portion is a projection.

10. The cleaning device according to claim 6 , wherein the female attachment portion includes a stop for preventing over insertion of the male attachment portion.

Assignees

• Winston Products Llc

Inventors

• Breeden Iii Winston H
• Carcioppolo Andrew J
• Johnson Robert C

Classifications

• A47F5/0006

  Hangers for hanging articles on bars, tringles, bracket arms or the like (dress holders, e.g. for clothing, shoes, A47G25/00; packages for hanging B65D; lockable clothing holders E05B69/00) · CPC title

• A47F5/0869

  Accessories for article-supporting brackets, e.g. price- indicating means, not covered by a single one of groups A47F5/08 (pushing means therefor A47F1/128) · CPC title

• B25G3/02

  Socket, tang, or like fixings (B25G3/34 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47F5/0838

  Rails or bars; Article supports therefor, e.g. brackets being slidably attached on the outside thereof · CPC title

• B25G3/18 Primary

  comprising catches or pawls · CPC title