Cleaning devices having selectively flexible or rigid handles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018206693-A1
Application number	US-201815879373-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 24, 2018
Priority date	Jan 26, 2017
Publication date	Jul 26, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cleaning device is provided that includes a handle, a cleaning implement, a flexible neck, and a collar. The cleaning implement depends from one end the handle. The flexible neck is positioned to allow flexion of the handle. The collar moves with respect to the flexible neck between a first position where movement of the flexible neck is unrestricted by the collar and a second position where movement of the flexible neck is restricted by the collar.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A cleaning device, comprising:
a handle; a cleaning implement depending from one end the handle; a flexible neck positioned to allow flexion of the handle; and a collar that moves with respect to the flexible neck between a first position where movement of the flexible neck is unrestricted by the collar and a second position where movement of the flexible neck is restricted by the collar.

2 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the collar moves with respect to the flexible neck in a manner selected from the group consisting of sliding along the longitudinal axis, rotating around the longitudinal axis, rotating about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, radial clamping onto the longitudinal axis, and any combinations thereof.

3 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , further comprising a telescoping device that allows the handle to telescope between extended and retracted positions.

4 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible neck provides a first level of flexion in a first orientation, but a second, lower level of flexion in a second orientation.

5 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible neck provides equal levels of flexion in all orientations.

6 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible neck is a single unitary member comprising an upper region, a lower region, and a rib that are formed together with an elastomeric member over at least portions of the rib

7 . The cleaning device of claim 6 , wherein the elastomeric member encases the rib.

8 . The cleaning device of claim 6 , wherein the elastomeric member is over molded onto the rib.

9 . The cleaning device of claim 6 , wherein the elastomeric member provides elastomeric or resilient properties to the flexible neck.

10 . The cleaning device of claim 6 , wherein the elastomeric member has different elastomeric properties on one side of the rib as compared to an opposite side of the rib.

11 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , further comprising features configured to secure the collar in a position selected from the group consisting of the first position, the second position, a plurality of positions between the first and second position, and any combinations thereof.

12 . The cleaning device of claim 11 , wherein the features are positioned on the flexible neck, the collar, or both the flexible neck and the collar.

13 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , further comprising a nested detail cleaning device disposed within a free end of the handle opposite cleaning implement.

14 . The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the neck has a stiffness ratio of flexion when the collar is in the first position to when the collar is in the second position of at least 1 : 2 .

15 . A cleaning device, comprising:
a handle; a cleaning implement depending from one end the handle; a detail cleaning device nested within a free end of the handle opposite the cleaning implement.

16 . The cleaning device of claim 15 , wherein the handle comprises a first opening and the nested detail cleaning device comprises a second opening, wherein, in an assembled position, the first and second openings are in registration with one another and allow a user to apply a force onto the nested detail cleaning device to force the nested device into or out of the handle.

17 . The cleaning device of claim 15 , wherein the handle comprises a pair of elongated openings at the free end and the nested detail cleaning device comprises a corresponding pair of protrusions, wherein, in an assembled position, the pair of elongated openings receive the pair of protrusions therein and allow a user to apply a force to the pair of protrusions to insert or remove the nested detail cleaning device from the handle in a longitudinal direction of the handle.

18 . The cleaning device of claim 17 , wherein at least one opening of the pair of elongated openings comprises a locking feature, wherein, during insertion and removal, at least one protrusion of the pair of protrusions acts on the locking feature to deflect one or more regions of handle that are proximate to the pair of elongated openings outward so that the pair of protrusions can pass over the locking feature.

19 . The cleaning device of claim 15 , further comprising a flexible neck positioned to allow flexion of the handle.

20 . The cleaning device of claim 19 , further comprising a collar that moves with respect to the flexible neck between a first position where movement of the flexible neck is unrestricted by the collar and a second position where movement of the flexible neck is restricted by the collar.

21 . The cleaning device of claim 19 , wherein the flexible neck provides a first level of flexion in a first orientation, but a second, lower level of flexion in a second orientation or provides equal levels of flexion in all orientations.

Assignees

• Unger Marketing Int Llc

Inventors

• Harrington William
• Stone Susanna
• Paolini Kenneth John

Classifications

• A47L13/46

  Securing scouring or polishing cloths or sponges to the handles by gripping means, tongs, or the like · CPC title

• A47L13/16

  Cloths; Pads; Sponges (metal scraping sponges A47L13/07) · CPC title

• A47L13/38

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

• A47L13/42 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• A47L13/257

  for mops made of sponge material · CPC title