WO2001043618A1

WO2001043618A1 - Cleaning brush with disposable head

Info

Publication number: WO2001043618A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/034550
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthony Lalli
Original assignee: New Knight Inc.
Priority date: 1999-12-15
Filing date: 2000-12-15
Publication date: 2001-06-21
Also published as: AU2909301A

Abstract

A cleaning device (10) having a disposable cleaning head (40) is provided. The device (10) includes an elongated handle (20) having a mounting stem (25). The cleaning head (40) is attached to the mounting stem (25). In addition, preferably, the device (10) includes an ejector (30) that is operable to eject the cleaning head off the handle (20) after use. The cleaning device (10) is particularly suited for use as a toilet brush. Specifically, the cleaning head (40) is dissolvable in liquid so that the cleaning head can be flushed after use.

Description

CLEANING BRUSH WITH DI SPOSABLE HEAD

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of cleaning devices. In particular, the present invention relates to cleaning devices having a replaceable head. Specifically, the present invention relates to disposable head cleaning devices for cleaning liquid filled containers such as toilets, wherein the disposable head dissolves after use so that the cleaning head ca" be flushed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a cleaning device embodying aspects of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a disposable cleaning head for use with the cleaning device illustrated m Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cleaning device illustrated m Fig. 1, shown in combination with a container of disposable cleaning heads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in general, and to Fig. 1 specifically, a cleaning device embodying aspects of the present invention is designated generally 10. The cleaning device 10 includes a disposable cleaning head 40. The cleaning head 40 is dissolvable in liquid. Accordingly, the cleaning device is particularly suited for use as a toilet brush, wherein after use the disposable cleaning head 40 can be flushed.

The device 10 includes an elongated handle 20 having a mounting stem 25 onto which the cleaning head 40 is attached. Preferably, the device includes an ejector 30 in the form of an elongated sleeve co-axial with the handle 20. The ejector 30 is operable to eject the cleaning head 40 off of the handle 20 after use.

The handle 20 may be formed m one of a number of configurations, to adapt the cleaning device to various applications. In the present instance the handle is an elongated cylindrical handle. The mounting stem 25 is formed on the distal end of the handle. In the present instance, the mounting stem 25 comprises a plurality of axially spaced ribs 27 extending around the circumference of the handle.

The cleaning head 40 preferably comprises a cylindrical core 42 and an outer cleaning layer 44 that surrounds the core, which is comprised of a plurality of soluble fibers attached to the exterior of the core. The interior core is configured to cooperate with the mounting stem 25 of the handle 20. In the present instance, the interior of the core is cylindrical having a diameter that corresponds to the exterior diameter of the mounting stem. More specifically, preferably the core is semi-rigid having a diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the ribs 27 of the mounting stem 25. In this way, when the mounting stem 25 is inserted into the core 42, the core deforms outwardly to fit over the ribs 27. The ribs are formed so that they engage the interior of the core 42 and operate as a lock, impeding removal of the cleaning head 40 from the mounting stem 25. The fit between the core and the mounting stem is an interference fit. In addition, the core has sufficient resilience so that after being pressed onto the mounting stem, the diameter resiliently expands into engagement with the ribs 27. In this way, the ribs form ratchet teeth having sufficient rigidity to provide effective engagement with the cleaning head to resist disengagement of the head from the handle.

The cleaning layer 44 attached to the core is formed of a water-soluble material. Prior to use, the cleaning layer is dry and is substantially rigid. Upon contact with water, the cleaning absorbs and retains water, so that the cleaning layer expands and is sufficiently pliable for use for cleaning. In addition, preferably tne cleaning layer is imbedded with a cleaning material and fragrance.

Preferably, the cleaning layer 44 is formed of a material that maintains its integrity while submersed in water for a sufficient period of time to allow the device to be used as a cleaning device. However, the cleaning layer is sufficiently soluble in water so that after several minutes, the cleaning layer disintegrates, thereby allowing the cleaning head to be flushed. Similarly, preferably, the core 42 is also formed of a material that maintains its integrity in water during use and then is sufficiently soluble in water to disintegrate so that the cleaning head can be flushed. Further, preferably the core dissolves more rapidly than the outer cleaning layer. In this way, the inner core softens and dissolves so that the cleaning head readily disengages the mounting stem. However, in certain applications, it may be desirable to utilize a core that dissolves at a slower rate than the cleaning head. The core 42 and cleaning layer 4 may be formed of any of a number of water-soluble biodegradable materials. For instance, the core and cleaning head can be formed of one or more of the following materials: cellulose material, paper pulp, lignm, and vegetable oil. The ejector 30 is operable to eject the cleaning head 40 from the mounting stem 25. The ejector is an elongated cylindrical sleeve that is coaxial with the handle 20. If the user desires to remove the cleaning head from the handle after use, the user displaces the ejector forwardly so that the forward edge of the ejector engages the cleaning head. Continued forward displacement of the ejector displaces the cleaning head forwardly until the cleaning head disengages the mounting stem 25. Preferably, the ejector 30 is biased rearwardly by a spring so that after the user advances the sleeve, the spring biases the ejector sleeve rearwardly so that the ejector sleeve returns to its retracted position.

The ejector allows the user to eject the cleaning head after the cleaning head had softened and become pliable, but has not sufficiently dissolved for the core to disengage the mounting stem without force. In other words, the user may use the device until the cleaning head sufficiently dissolves and disengages the handle. However, if the user is done cleaning before the cleaning head has sufficiently dissolved, the user may eject the cleaning head using the ejector, without waiting for the cleaning head to disintegrate and fall off the handle. Referring to Fig. 3, the cleaning heads 40 may be packaged in a refill pack 50. The refill pack is a carton having a plurality of pockets for receiving the cleaning neads 40. Each pocket receives one of the cleaning heads. To mount a cleaning head onto the handle, the handle is inserted into the cleaning head 40 while the cleaning head is disposed in the pocket in the refill container 50.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation. There is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof. It is recognized, however, that various modifications are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A cleaning device, comprising: a handle; and a disposable cleaning head adapted to be engageable with the handle, the cleaning head comprising: an inner core dissolvable in water; and a cleaning layer attached to the outer core and being dissolvable in water, wherein the inner core dissolves more rapidly than the cleaning layer.

2. The cleaning device of claims 1, comprising an ejector for displacing the cleaning head forwardly relative to the handle to eject the cleaning head from the handle.

3. The cleaning device of claim 2 wherein the ejector is reciprocally axially displaceable relative to the handle .

4. The cleaning device of claim 3 comprising a biasing element for biasing the ejector rearwardly away from the cleaning head.

5. The clean] ng device of claim 1 wherein the core has substantially cylindrical interior cavity and the handle comprises a mounting stem configured to cooperate with the interior cavity of the core.

6. The cleaning device of claim 5 wherein the stem comprises a plurality of circumferential ribs axially spaced from one another.

7. The cleaning device of claim 6 wherein the outer diameter of the circumferential ribs is greater than the diameter of the core interior cavity.

8. The cleaning device of claim 7 wherein the ribs engage the core to substantially prevent removal of the cleaning head from the stem while the cleaning head is dry.

9. The cleaning device of claim 8 wherein wetting the cleaning head causes the core to become sufficiently pliable to allow removal of the cleaning head from the stem.

10. The cleaning device of claim 1 comprising a one-way lock for substantially impeding axial displacement of the cleaning head relative to the handle while the cleaning head is dry.

11. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the cleaning layer comprises one of cellulose, paper pulp, lignm and vegetable oil.

12. A cleaning device, comprising: a handle having ratchet elements; a disposable cleaning head being adapted to be engageable with the hanαle, and being formed of a water-soluble material; wherein the ratchet elements afford ready engagement between the handle and the cleaning head and substantially impeding disengagement of the head from the handle when the cleaning head is dry.

13. The cleaning device of claim 12 wherein the ratcher elements permit the cleaning head to be readily disengaged from the handle when the cleaning head is wet .