AU6125000A - Cleaning apparatus - Google Patents

Description

rik P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Cleaning apparatus The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:

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received on: 2 SEp 2000 f 0 1 i Batch N 9 Freehills Carter Smith BeadleMELC600370821.1 CD/00370687.5 CLEANING APPARATUS Field of the invention This invention relates to cleaning apparatus and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to cleaning apparatus for the cleaning of surfaces, particularly by hand.

Definitions Throughout this specification a reference to cleaning is to be taken as including dusting.

Background to the Invention For many years the cleaning of furniture and floors, particularly to remove dust, has been a time consuming chore disliked by most who have to do it. One e• of the easiest ways of dusting has been to use a feather (real or synthetic) duster.

However, in the main, a feather duster only moves the dust from one place to another. Modern feather dusters have the ability to attract some dust for subsequent removal, but most of the dust is merely moved. Damp cloths have proven successful but they require constant cleaning to remain effective. Suction cleaners are noisy, cumbersome to use and do not trap fine dust particles.

e* It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide :cleaning apparatus which is easily used, and effective against dust.

Summary of the Invention With the above and other objects in mind, the present invention provides a cleaning apparatus in which the primary surface contact material is a felt having the ability to collect and entrap dust.

Preferably, the felt is a saddle felt. More preferably the felt has wool as its CD/00370687.5

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2 major component. Advantageously, the wool content is 70%. More advantageously, another component of the felt is viscose.

The felt may be mounted on a body which may have a handle. The felt may be partially surrounded by a broom-like edging for trapping of larger material.

The edging may extend around the complete periphery of the felt.

The felt is preferably somewhat triangularly shaped at each end thereof to facilitate the cleaning of internal corners.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be better understood, there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only preferred constructions of cleaning apparatus incorporating the principal features of the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: II II...i Figure 1 is an underneath view of a first form; 15 Figure 2 is a side view of the form of Figure 1; eeoc Figure 3 is an underneath view of a second form; Figure 4 is an underneath view of a third form; and Figure 5 is an underneath view of a forth form.

Description of Preferred Embodiments As shown in Figures 1 and 2 there is cleaning apparatus having a body and a handle 12. The handle 12 may be of any suitable size, shape, material or form. The body 10 is generally planar and has secured to the lower surface thereof a layer 14 of felt. The felt is preferably a saddle felt, which may have a composition of 70% wool and 30% viscose. As such it has the ability to trap and CD/00370687.5 3 retain therein dust until cleaned by use of a damp cloth, striking, or use of a suction cleaner. The felt 14 may be of any suitable thickness such as, for example, 19mm.

The body 10 is the same size and shape as the felt 14. They both have a generally rectangular central portion 16, and triangular ends 18. In this way the ends 18 can be of assistance in the cleaning of internal corners.

The embodiment of Figure 3 is substantially the same as that of Figures 1 and 2 with the addition of broom-like material 20. This broom-like material may be in the form of bristles, foam, or the like. The material 20 extends around the periphery of felt 14. This may be complete (as shown) or partial. The material captures larger particles such as, for example, food crumbs. It may have a vertical extent the same as felt 14.

a The felt 14 and body 10 may be of any suitable size or shape. Figures 4 "and 5 show ends 18 as arcuate, and rectangular respectively.

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eeeei 15 The cleaning apparatus may be able to be used on hard floors, carpet, rugs, ceramic tiles, furniture, glass mirrors and windows with or without polish or other cleaning aids. The felt 14 may be impregnated with substances such as polish, cleaning aids, or the like as required. It will clean hard floors with them appearing as though it has been polished without the need for a polish.

o• It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the :*.°individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. A cleaning apparatus in which the primary surface contact material is a felt having the ability to collect and entrap dust.

2. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the felt is a saddle felt.

3. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the felt has wool as its major component.

4. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the wool content is A cleaning apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein viscose is another component of the felt.

6. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the felt is mounted on a body.

7. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the body has a handle. 0 8. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the felt is at least partially surrounded by a broom-like edging for trapping of larger material. 0 0. 9. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the edging extends around the complete periphery of the felt. 0 00

10. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the felt is substantially triangularly shaped at each end thereof to facilitate the cleaning of internal corners. CD/00370687.5

11. A cleaning apparatus substantially as herein defined with reference to, or with reference to and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings. Nickolaos Lentzos and Joanne Lentzos By their Registered Patent Attorneys Freehills Carter Smith Beadle 24 September 2000