Cleaning device having a variable size and shape head

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9980622-B2
Application number	US-201313936595-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2013
Priority date	Jul 9, 2012
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

A cleaning device includes a base having a first side and a second side. A first deployment element pivotally connects to the first side of the base and is pivotable from a stowed position to a deployed position. A second deployment element pivotally connects to the second side of the base and is pivotable from the stowed position to the deployed position. In the stowed position the base, the first deployment element, and the second deployment element define a substantially rectangular perimeter. In the deployed position, the base, the first deployment element, and the second deployment element define a substantially trapezoidal perimeter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning device comprising:
a base having a first side and an opposed second side;
a first deployment element pivotally connected to the first side of the base and pivotable from a first stowed position to a first deployed position;
a second deployment element pivotally connected to the second side of the base and pivotable from a second stowed position to a second deployed position;
a first biasing device engaging the base and the first deployment element, the first biasing device biasing the first deployment element towards the first deployed position;
a second biasing device engaging the base and the second deployment element, the second biasing device biasing the second deployment element towards the second deployed position; and
a release mechanism including an actuator button and supported by the base, the actuator button including a first arm extending from a first side of the actuator button and a second arm extending from an opposing second side of the actuator button, the first arm engaging the first deployment element to hold the first deployment element in the first stowed position, the second arm engaging the second deployment element to hold the second deployment element in the second stowed position,
wherein the actuator button is configured to pivot the first arm away from the first deployment element and the second arm away from the second deployment element to disengage both of the first deployment element and the second deployment element thereby permitting the first biasing device to move the first deployment element to the first deployed position and permitting the second biasing device to move the second deployment element to the second deployed position.

2. The cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising:
a foam layer positioned on the base.

3. The cleaning device of claim 2 wherein:
the foam layer includes surface protrusions.

4. The cleaning device of claim 3 wherein:
the surface protrusions are arranged in a plurality of lines.

5. The cleaning device of claim 4 wherein:
the surface protrusions have a larger surface area in a central line of the plurality of lines.

6. The cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising:
a plurality of attachment structures for retaining a cleaning sheet, the attachment structures being located on a top surface of the base.

7. The cleaning device of claim 6 wherein:
the attachment structures comprise a flexible material having slits defining pointed structures capable of engaging a cleaning sheet.

8. The cleaning device of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first deployment element includes a passageway for receiving one of the attachment structures when the first deployment element is in the first stowed position, or the second deployment element includes a passageway for receiving one of the attachment structures when the second deployment element is in the second stowed position.

9. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first deployment element is flush with a top surface of the base when the first deployment element is in the first stowed position, or the second deployment element is flush with the top surface of the base when the second deployment element is in the second stowed position.

10. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein:
the actuator button is configured to move a first end of the first arm toward a second end of the second arm when the button is depressed.

11. The cleaning device of claim 10 wherein:
the first end of the first arm engages the first deployment element when the first deployment element is in the first stowed position, and

the second end of the second arm engages the second deployment element when the second deployment element is in the second stowed position.

12. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein:
the first deployment element has a substantially triangular perimeter, and
the second deployment element has a substantially triangular perimeter.

13. The cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first deployment element includes a fastener for attaching a cleaning sheet, or the second deployment element includes a fastener for attaching a cleaning sheet.

14. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein:
wherein, when the first deployment element is in the first stowed position and the second deployment element is in the second stowed position, the base, the first deployment element, and the second deployment element define a substantially rectangular perimeter, and
when the first deployment element is in the first deployed position and the second deployment element is in the second deployed position, the base, the first deployment element, and the second deployment element define a substantially trapezoidal perimeter.

15. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein:
when the first deployment element is in the first deployed position and the second deployment element is in the second deployed position, the base, the first deployment element, and the second deployment element define a perimeter having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge having a greater length than the trailing edge.

16. A cleaning device comprising:
a base having a first side and an opposed second side;
a first deployment element pivotally connected to the first side of the base and pivotable from a first stowed position to a first deployed position;
a second deployment element pivotally connected to the second side of the base and pivotable from a second stowed position to a second deployed position;
a first torsion spring for biasing the first deployment element to the first deployed position;
a second torsion spring for biasing the second deployment element to the second deployed position; and
a release mechanism comprising (i) a first arm for engaging the first deployment element to hold the first deployment element in the first stowed position, and (ii) a second arm for engaging the second deployment element to hold the second deployment element in the second stowed position, and (iii) an actuator button, wherein the first arm is connected to a first side of the actuator button and the second arm is connected to a second opposing side of the actuator button, the actuator button configured to move a distal end of the first arm toward a distal end of the second arm when the button is depressed;
wherein, when the first deployment element is in the first stowed position and the second deployment element is in the second stowed position, the base, the first deployment element, and the second deployment element define a substantially rectangular perimeter, and
wherein, when the first deployment element is in the first deployed position and the second deployment element is in the second deployed position, the base, the first deployment element, and the second deployment element define a substantially trapezoidal perimeter.

17. The cleaning device of claim 16 ,
wherein the release mechanism is manually actuatable to disengage the first deployment element and disengage the second deployment element thereby permitting the first biasing device to move the first deployment element to the first deployed position and permitting the second biasing device to move the second deployment element to the second deployed position.

Assignees

• Johnson & Son Inc S C

Inventors

• Soller Douglas A
• Zach Steven A
• Arevalo Jose M
• Forst Matthew J
• Crull Jeffrey L
• Ross Katlyn
• Sparks Evan A
• Marion Aaron

Classifications

• A47L13/258 Primary

  of adjustable or foldable type · CPC title

• A47L13/46 Primary

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