US20060207045A1

US20060207045A1 - Device for removing scuff marks from floor

Info

Publication number: US20060207045A1
Application number: US11/082,376
Authority: US
Inventors: Duane Pyka; Jerry Hall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-17
Filing date: 2005-03-17
Publication date: 2006-09-21

Abstract

A tool for removing scuff marks from floors is connectable to a handle of standard floor tools. The tool includes an inflexible knob with a felt-type material covering. A user simply rubs the felt-type material against the scuffmark until the scuff mark is removed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cleaning tool. In particular, the present invention relates to a floor cleaning tool for removing scuff marks.
Floors, such as terrazzo, vinyl, tile and hardwood, become marred by scuff marks from shoes. Presently, tennis balls are used to remove the scuff marks without damaging the floors. However, using the tennis ball can be inconvenient, especially when the floor covers a large area with many scuff marks, because the individual cleaning the marks must stoop over or kneel on the floor.
To overcome this, prior art tools have cut cross hairs into tennis balls to insert a handle. However, the handle tends to slip out, and the flexible nature of the tennis ball makes it less than ideal for cleaning scuffmarks. Therefore, there is a need for a better tool for cleaning scuff marks.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a tool for removing scuffmarks from floors. The tool includes a felt-type material covering at least part of an inflexible knob. The inflexible knob is connectable to a handle of a floor-cleaning tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the scuffmark removal tool connected to a handle.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the scuff mark removal tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows is a representative embodiment of scuff mark removal system 10. System 10 includes handle 12 and scuffmark removal tool 14 with inflexible ball 16 and felt-type material 18. Handle 12 connects to inflexible ball 16. Felt-type material 18 covers the outside of inflexible knob 16.
Handle 12 may be from any standard floor-cleaning tool, such as a mop. In this way, a user simply removes the mop head and connects tool 14. This is cost effective as well as creating efficient storage, because only one handle need be purchased and stored. Alternatively, handle 12 may be specifically for tool 14.
Inflexible knob 16 may be made from any of a number of materials and should allow for connection to handle 12, which is described in detail below. Typically, knob 16 has a diameter of about 1-⅜ inches, but knob 16 may be larger or smaller depending on preference and need. One example of knob 16 is a Grainger® ball knob no. 5A013, which has a 1-⅜ inches diameter, ⅜-16 inch thread size, tapped, and made of phenolic plastic.
Alternatively, knob 16 may have a shape other than the spherical shape shown here. For example, knob 16 may be a flat disk, a flat square, or a cube.
Felt-type material 18 may be felt or any similar type of woven material. Felt-type material 18 typically covers about half of the exterior surface of knob 16 but can vary depending on preference and need.
In operation, a user holds handle 12 and places scuffmark removal tool 14 on a floor such that felt-type material is in contact with the scuff mark. The user then rubs the scuff mark with tool 14 until the scuff mark is removed. Alternatively, tool 14 may be used without handle 12.
FIG. 2 shows across section through tool 14. Tool 14 includes knob 16, felt-type material 18, backing 20, adhesive 22, and insert 24. Material 18 is the outermost layer. It is attached to backing 20, which is in turn attached to knob 16 with adhesive 22. Insert 24 extends into knob 16 from a location opposite material 18, if material 18 does not completely cover knob 16 as shown here.
An example of a suitable adhesive 22 is Devcon® 2-Ton epoxy. Backing 20 is typically composed of rubber or similar type material and prevents adhesive 22 from seeping through material 18. Examples of suitable felt-type material with a rubber backing are the covering of a tennis ball or non-slip felt grip for fishing waders. A felt material that would not require rubber backing is industrial felt material, which is thicker and would prevent seepage of glue.
Insert 24 allows connection of a handle. Insert 24 is a metal sleeve that is a ¼ inch 20NC, which is standard for attaching a handle-especially the handle of a standard floor-cleaning tool. Insert 24 allows tool 14 to be securely attached to a handle while still being easily attached and detached.
Tool 14 quickly and easily removes scuffmarks from floors. Because tool 14 attaches to handles of standard floor-cleaning tools, it is cost effective and requires little additional storage space. In addition, the materials described above for fabricating tool 14 are substantial to provide repeated use without wearing out.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A tool for removing scuff marks from a floor, the tool comprising:

an inflexible knob having an exterior surface and being connectable to a handle of a floor-cleaning tool; and

a felt-like material at least partially covering the exterior surface of the knob.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the felt-type material is attached to a rubber-type backing.

3. The tool of claim 2 wherein the rubber-type backing is glued to the inflexible knob.

4. The tool of claim 1 wherein the felt-like material is glued to the inflexible knob.

5. The tool of claim 1 wherein the inflexible knob has a diameter of about 1-⅜ inches.

6. The tool of claim 1 wherein the inflexible knob has a threaded sleeve for connecting to the handle.

7. The tool of claim 6 wherein an inner diameter of the threaded sleeve measures about ½ inch.

8. A tool for removing scuff marks from a floor, the device comprising:

an inflexible knob having an exterior surface that is at least partially covered with rubber backed felt-type material; and

an insert for connecting the knob to a handle of a floor-cleaning tool.

9. The tool of claim 8 wherein the insert includes a threaded sleeve for connecting to the handle.

10. The tool of claim 9 wherein the threaded sleeve connects to a standard mop handle.

11. A system for removing scuff marks from a floor, the system comprising:

an inflexible knob having an exterior surface that is at least partially covered with felt-like material; and

a handle connected to the inflexible knob.