AU2011101236B4

AU2011101236B4 - Device for carrying cleaning products

Info

Publication number: AU2011101236B4
Application number: AU2011101236A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mary Keegan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-09-26
Filing date: 2011-09-26
Publication date: 2016-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-26
Also published as: AU2011101236A4

Abstract

A device for carrying cleaning products and apparatus includes a belt 12 for encircling the waist of a user; a plurality of loops 18, the belt 12 passing axially 5 through the plurality of loops 18, each loop 18 being releasably fastenable to the belt 12 in a variety of positions around the belt 12; and a plurality of carrying components, each carrying component being capable of holding a cleaning product or item of cleaning apparatus, and being attached to at least one loop. The carrying components may include at least one of the following: a substantially 10 waterproof pouch for carrying cleaning cloths, a hook, a Velcro loop, a bottle holder, a multi-purpose carrying component including zipped pockets and elastic loops for holding hand tools, and/or a pouch for carrying sharp edged equipment.

Description

DEVICE FOR CARRYING CLEANING PRODUCTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of cleaning, and specifically to a device for carrying cleaning products and apparatus.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Cleaning tasks typically require a person to transport a wide variety of products and equipment to be able to carry out these tasks effectively. Such products and equipment can include cleaning cloths, spray bottles of cleaning chemicals, scrapers, garbage bags, gloves, and hand tools such as knives and screwdrivers.

In order for a person to transport all of the required products and equipment, frequently trolleys or buckets are used. However, these have several drawbacks. In particular, trolleys can be quite bulky and it can be difficult to use in confined spaces, or in crowded spaces such as public attractions. Additionally, trolleys are difficult to transport over uneven surfaces or up or down stairs. Buckets or other hand held carrying devices overcome some of these issues, however, there carrying such a device by hand for extended periods can lead to fatigue. Furthermore, there is a risk of cross contamination between cleaning cloths if these are used and not kept separate.

In order to address the types of issues above with trolleys and hand held carrying devices, a number of belts have previously been proposed for carrying various types of tools and equipment. For example, US Patent 2,817,472 describes a fisherman’s belt including vertical compartments around the outer surface of the belt for receiving containers of various articles employed while fishing such as fish hooks and lures, and grommets adjacent the lower edge of the belt for supporting various implements such as scaling devices, knives, fish nets and the like. US Patent 4,867,360 describes a belt having a plurality of appropriately sized and shaped containers and hooks, affixed in such a manner as to enable a person engaged in light maintenance or janitorial duties to carry appropriate equipment at accessible locations around the belt. US Patent 5,004,136 describes a belt for carrying cleaning items such as spray bottles, gloves, dusters and cleaning towels. The belt has a number of D-ring connectors hanging from webbing stitched to the lower edge of the belt. Pockets and hooks are attached to the D-rings by Velcro straps.

In view of the above, it is desirable to provide a device for carrying cleaning products on a belt, which provides improvements over the above apparatus. In particular it is desirable to provide such a device which can more conveniently be customised for a particular user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for carrying cleaning products and apparatus, including a) a belt for encircling the waist of a user; b) a plurality of loops, the belt passing axially through the plurality of loops; c) a plurality of fastening components for releasably fastening a loop to the belt, the fastening components being located substantially along the length of the belt, and being substantially evenly spaced such that each loop is releasably fastenabie to the belt in a variety of positions around the belt; and d) a plurality of carrying components, each carrying component being capable of holding a cleaning product or item of cleaning apparatus, and being attached to at least one loop.

This arrangement allows for the carrying components to be easily moved to various positions on the belt without removing the loops and the attached carrying components from the belt. In this manner, the belt can be customised to allow the positions of various products and apparatus being carried to suit different users and tasks.

Preferably, the belt has a plurality of press stud components spaced around the belt and each loop has at least one press stud component for releasably engaging with the press stud components on the belt to releasably secure the loop in a selected position.

The use of press studs provides a convenient yet relatively robust means of releasably fastening the loops to the belt.

Preferably the belt has an adjustable buckle for securing the belt around the waist of a user. Further preferably, the buckle is of the type where the excess length of the belt is arranged to the inner side of the belt when being worn, such a buckle known as a stockmans buckle.

The carrying components may include at least one of the following: a substantially waterproof pouch for carrying cleaning cloths, a hook, a Velcro loop, a bottle holder, a multi-purpose carrying component including zipped pockets and elastic loops for holding hand tools, and/or a pouch for carrying sharp edged equipment.

Preferably the carrying components include a cloth carrying component, the cloth carrying component including a substantially waterproof pouch with an upward facing opening, and a hook provided above the opening, such that when a cloth is hung from the hook, at least a lower portion of the cloth is allowed to hang within the substantially waterproof pouch.

By this arrangement, the cloth being carried is substantially prevented from contacting and contaminating other items being carried. Furthermore, as the cloth hangs within a substantially waterproof pouch, the prospect of any cleaning product remaining on the cloth after use dripping into the surrounding environment is significantly reduced.

Further preferably the cloth carrying component includes at least two adjacent substantially waterproof pouches, each with an upward facing opening, and a hook provided above each opening, such that when a cloth is hung from each of the hooks, at least a lower portion of each cloth is allowed to hang within the substantially waterproof pouch directly below, such that there is no crosscontamination between the cloths while the cloths are so hung.

This arrangement allows for multiple cloths to be carried adjacent one another while reducing the risk of cross-contamination between cloths.

The substantially waterproof pouches may have a zipper opening extending substantially along the vertical length of the pouch. This allows the cloths to easily be removed from the pouch after use, and also allows the inside of the pouch to be made accessible to allow the inside of the pouch to be cleaned.

Conveniently, a cleaning cloth for use with such a cloth carrying component has a loop for hanging the cleaning cloth located substantially in the centre of the cleaning cloth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further illustrate the invention, and how it may be performed, a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating a device according to one embodiment of the invention and its associated components.

Figure 2 is a photograph depicting a device according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a photograph depicting cloths contained in a cloth carrying component.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figure 1, a device 10 for carrying cleaning products and apparatus is provided. The device 10 includes a belt for encircling the waist of a user. The belt 12 has at one end a buckle 14, and the other end, a plurality of spaced holes 16. In use, the belt 12 is passed around the waist of a user and secured by passing a component of the buckle 14 through an appropriate hole 16. In this manner, the belt 12 can be adapted to fit a variety of different sized users. The belt 12 may also be made in varying lengths to accommodate a wider variety of different sized users.

Preferably the buckle 14 is of the type where the excess length of the belt is arranged to the inner side of the belt when being worn, such as a buckle known as a stockmans buckle. A plurality of loops 18 are provided on the belt 12, and the belt 12 passes axially through each of the loops 18. Each loop 18 is releasably fastenable to the belt 12.

Referring to Figure 2, a plurality of press stud components 20 are located around the belt 12. Preferably, the press stud components 20 are evenly spaced around the belt 12. Each loop 18 has a corresponding press stud component 22. The press stud component 22 on the loop is releasably engagable with the press stud component 20 on the belt so as to releasably secure the loop 18 in a selected position on the belt 12.

Referring to Figure 1, the press stud components 20 of the belt are not visible as each press stud component 20 of the belt is engaged with a press stud component 22 of a loop. A variety of carrying components for carrying various cleaning products and apparatus are attached to the loops 18. The carrying components include a cloth carrying component 24, a Velcro loop 25, hooks 26, bottle holders 28, and a multi purpose carrying component with zipped pockets 30.

As illustrated in Figure 1, depending on the size of the carrying component, it may be attached to one or more loops 18 for fastening to the belt 12. A carrying component may readily be relocated to a selected position on the belt 12 by unfastening the press stud component/s 22 of the loops 18 to which the carrying component is attached from the press stud component/s 20 of the belt 12, moving the carrying component around the belt 12 the selected position, and refastening the press stud component/s 22 of the loops 18 to the press stud component/s 20 of the belt 12 in the selected position. Similarly, a carrying component may be removed from the belt altogether if it is not required by a particular user or for a particular task.

In this manner, the device 10 can be customised to provide that carrying components are most conveniently located for the tasks to be performed by a particular user, and customised to position the carrying components in the most comfortable position for a particular user.

The cloth carrying component 24 includes two adjacent substantially waterproof pouches 38 with upward facing openings 40. A hook 42 is provided above each of the openings 40. Referring to Figure 3, when a cleaning cloth 46 is hung from a hook 42, at least a lower portion of the cloth 42 is allowed to hang within the substantially waterproof pouch 38 below. In this manner, the risk of cross-contamination resulting from the cloth 46 coming into contact with other cleaning equipment is reduced. Furthermore, as the pouch 38 is substantially waterproof, any drips from the cloth 46 should be retained within the pouch 38, further reducing any contamination risk.

Preferably, cloths 46 for use with the cloth carrying component 24 include a loop 48 for hanging the cloth 46 on the hook 42. Conveniently, the loop 48 is located substantially in the centre of the cloth 46.

Referring again to Figure 1, each of the pouches 38 has a zipper opening 44 extending substantially along the vertical length of the pouch 38. This allows the cloths to easily be removed from the pouch after use, and also allows the inside of the pouch to be made accessible to allow the inside of the pouch to be cleaned.

The Velcro loop 25 includes two releasably fastenable strips of Velcro which, when fastened together, form a loop, through which items such as garbage bags may be passed and secured.

Bottle holders 28 may take any size suitable for holding a bottle of cleaning product. For example, bottle holder 28 may be sized to receive a 500 ml spray bottle. Conveniently, the bottle holder 28 has a front pouch 36, with an opening covered by a flap that is releasably closable by a press stud 37. Bottle holder 28 may also include additional attachments for carrying other cleaning tools, such as an elastic loop 32 and a sleeve 34. Sleeve 34 may be made from a material resistant to piercing, such that it is suitable for carrying a sharp edged tool.

The multi purpose carrying component 30 include two pockets 50 of approximately equal size and rectangular shape. Each pocket has a zipper 52 allowing the pocket to be opened or closed.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A device for carrying cleaning products and apparatus, including a) a belt for encircling the waist of a user; b) a plurality of loops, the belt passing axially through the plurality of loops; c) a plurality of fastening components for releasably fastening a loop to the belt, the fastening components being located substantially along the length of the belt, and being substantially evenly spaced such that each loop is releasably fastenable to the belt in a variety of positions around the belt; and d) a plurality of carrying components, each carrying component being capable of holding a cleaning product or item of cleaning apparatus, and being attached to at least one loop.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the carrying components include at least one of the following: a substantially waterproof pouch for carrying cleaning cloths, a hook, a Velcro loop, a bottle holder, a multi-purpose carrying component including zipped pockets and elastic loops for holding hand tools, and/or a pouch for carrying sharp edged equipment.
3. A device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the carrying components include a cloth carrying component, the cloth carrying component including a substantially waterproof pouch with an upward facing opening, and a hook provided above the opening, such that when a cloth is hung from the hook, at least a lower portion of the cloth is allowed to hang within the substantially waterproof pouch.
4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the cloth carrying component includes at least two adjacent substantially waterproof pouches, each with an upward facing opening, and a hook provided above each opening, such that when a cloth is hung from each of the hooks, at least a lower portion of each cloth is allowed to hang within the substantially waterproof pouch directly below, such that there is no cross-contamination between the cloths while the cloths are so hung.
5. A cleaning cloth for use with a cloth carrying component as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the cloth has a loop for hanging the cleaning cloth located substantially in the centre of the cleaning cloth.