GB2193431A

GB2193431A - Cleaning device for removing dust etc. from surfaces

Info

Publication number: GB2193431A
Application number: GB08713991A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Victor Arthur De Mouchet-Nokes
Original assignee: MOUCHET NOKES VICTOR ARTHUR DE; NOKES TERENCE JOHN
Current assignee: MOUCHET NOKES VICTOR ARTHUR DE; NOKES TERENCE JOHN
Priority date: 1986-06-20
Filing date: 1987-06-16
Publication date: 1988-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2007-06-16
Also published as: GB8713991D0; GB2193431B

Abstract

A cleaning device 10 for removing dust, fluff, hair and the like from a surface, e.g. clothing, comprises a coagulated latex pad (11), which may be enclosed in a cover (12). For cleaning carpets, floors, and furnishings including car interiors and stairways, the cleaning device 20 may comprise a handle 22 provided with a flexible blade 21 made from coagulated latex, or a cleaning head to which are secured a flexible blade made from coagulated latex and a broom handle. The latex may be a natural rubber latex or a polyisobutylene latex. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A cleaning device This invention relates to cleaning devices for the removal of dust, fluff, hair and the like from the surface to be cleaned. When cleaning dust from fabric surfaces, such as covers for seats, carpets, and clothes it is normal to use a brush to lift the dust particles out of the cloth.

The applicant has invented a new cleaning device which is cheaper than brushes, and in particular in the case of clothes brushes is more convenient to carry on one's person.

Accordingly there is provided a cleaning device for removing dust, fluff, hair and the like from a surface on which it has accumulated, said device including a strip or sheet of latex to be wiped over the surface to be cleaned.

The term latex refers to coagulated latex.

Preferably the latex is plantation natural rubber latex which is supplied in the form of translucent sheet.

As a clothes cleaner device it is preferred for the latex sheet to be of a size that fits easily into a jacket pocket or a handbag. The latex sheet can be enclosed in a folded paper or plastic cover similar to the sort of cover used for a booklet of matches.

As a furniture cleaner device, a latex strip has one longitudinal edge margin supported in a handle, preferably a U section clip that encases one edge margin of the strip. Such a cleaner is also convenient to carry about, or leave in a vehicle.

As a floor cleaner device a strip of latex can be mounted on a head suitable for attachment of a long handle of type colloquially known as a broom handle.

The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an end elevation of clothes cleaning device in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 when partially opened.

Fig. 3 is a series of schematic diagrams showing use of the cleaning device.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a hand held cleaning device in accordance with another aspect of the invention for cleaning furniture.

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are views of an alternative hand held cleaning device for cleaning furniture.

Fig. 7 shows a floor cleaning device in accordance with yet another aspect of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line VIll-VIll of Fig.

7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative floor cleaning device. With reference to Fig. 1 to 3, there is illustrated a clothes cleaning device 10 for removing hair, dandruff, fluff etc. from the surface of clothes made of cloth, suede, leather, and fur. The cleaning device 10 comprises a latex pad 11 of a suitable size for fitting easily into a pocket or handbag, for example 3q inches x 22 inches by g" thick (90 mm x 57 mm x 3 mm). The latex pad 11 is enclosed in a folded cover 12 made of card, plastic, leather, etc. The cover has a flap 13 which is wrapped around one edge of the pad and the cover 12 is secured to the latex sheet 11 by staples 14 which pass through the back 16 of the flap 13 and the margin of the pad.The front portion 15 of the cover 12 tucks into the flap 13 to encase the latex pad and form a booklet.

The cover 12 will protect the user's bag or pocket from any accumulated dirt on the pad 11.

The use of the cleaning device 10 is illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 3a shows the cover 12 being folded back. The free end portion of the latex pad is then lightly flickwiped over the fabric several times (at least two or three) as shown in Fig. 3b. The collected dust, fluff, etc., is removed by wiping the latex pad with a tissue, cloth, or even hand. If the pad becomes very grubby it can be washed in water and detergent, and is re-usable.

Fig. 4 illustrates a slightly larger cleaning device suitable for use in cleaning of furnishings, including car interiors and stairways. The cleaning device 20 comprises an elongate handle 22 about 6 inches long (15 cms) of a cross-sectional shape so that it can be easily gripped by hand, to which a flexible blade in the form of a strip of latex 21 is attached.

The latex strip 21 is about 1 g" wide and is secured in a slot in the handle at an angle of about 300 to the bottom 23 of the handle 22.

The free end portion of the latex strip can be used to flick-wipe the surface to be cleaned.

The latex strip is replaceable and may be held in the slot by screws.

Fig. 5 and 6 show an alternative hand held cleaning device of much simpler construction.

The strip of latex 31 is approximately 6" x 1 x x g"(15 x 3 x 0.3 cms) and has a 'U' sectional elongated clip 32 pushed over one longitudinal edge margin to stiffen the whole one side of the strip and provide a handle.

The legs 33 of the clip are about one inch long (1.2 cms) so that the clip supports about half the width of the latex strip. Thus the device is about the size of an average hair comb and can be carried in a pocket or handbag. The clip 32 can be a plastic extrusion, or a metal clip.

Fig. 7 and 8 illustrate a floor cleaning device in particular for cleaning hairs from deep pile carpets. The latex blade 41 projects from a slot 45 angled at about 300 in the base 46 of the head 42. The head 42 is preferably moulded plastic and has an attachment 43 for securing the head 42 to a handle 44, preferably a broom handle. The angle latex blade has about 50% of width supported within the slot 45 and can be removably fixed in place by countersunk screws.

The angled blade has been found to enhance the cleaning efficiency of the cleaning device for collecting hair and dust. A head 42 with a latex strip mounted flat on the base 46 of the head has also been suitable for cleaning carpets.

With reference to Fig. 9 there is illustrated a second floor cleaning device in which the latex blade 5#1 is held in an elongated slot 55 formed between two legs of a U-shaped channel. The latex strip is secured in the slot by any suitable means such as sprag teeth, indentations, raised bosses, etc. The handle attachment 53 is angled relative to the blade so that in use the blade is held at an acute angle to the floor surface.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to the foregoing examples it will be appreciated that minor modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, for example the latex strip could be formed from analogous materials such as polyisobutylene.

Claims

1. A cleaning device for removing dust, fluff, hair and the like from a surface on which it has accumulated, said device including a strip or sheet of latex to be wiped over the surface to be cleaned.

2. A cleaning device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the strip or sheet is mounted on a holder as a flexible blade supported on one edge only

3. A cleaning device in particular for clothes and as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein a latex pad is of such a size that it can be carried in a coat pocket or a handbag and the latex sheet is enclosed in a folded cover.

4. A clothes cleaning device as claimed in Claim 3 when dependent upon Claim 2, wherein the cover is made of folded card, and has a bottom flap that is secured to the edge of the latex sheet, and the front portion of the cover tucks into the flap.

5. A cleaning device as claimed in Claim 2, to be held in hand and which comprises a strip of latex having one longitudinal edge margin held in a handle to support approximately up to 50% of the width of the strip, and having its other longitudinal edge margin free for wiping across the surface to be cleaned.

6. A cleaning device as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the support is an elongated 'U' section clip which clips over the edge of the latex strip.

7. A cleaning device claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 and which is for floor cleaning, wherein a latex strip is mounted on head suit able for attachment to a broken handle.

8. A cleaning device as claimed in Claim 7 when dependent upon Claim 2 and Claim 5, wherein the latex strip is supported along one longitudinal edge for about 50% of its width so that it is mounted at an acute angle to the surface to be wiped.

9. A cleaning device as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the strip is mounted so that the free portion of the strip extends at an angle of about 30% to the support means.

10. A clothes cleaning device as described herein and as claimed in Claim 4 and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A hand held cleaning device as described herein and claimed in Claims 5 and 6, and as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A floor cleaning device as described herein and as claimed in Claim 7 and as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.