WO2020028983A1

WO2020028983A1 - Cleaning tool

Info

Publication number: WO2020028983A1
Application number: PCT/CA2019/051079
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Steer
Original assignee: David Steer
Priority date: 2018-08-06
Filing date: 2019-08-06
Publication date: 2020-02-13

Abstract

A cleaning tool includes a handle, a mounting member attached to an end of the handle, and a disposable cleaning member removably mounted on the mounting member. The disposable cleaning member defines a cone shape.

Description

CLEANING TOOL

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/714,893, titled“CLEANING TOOL” and filed August 6, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to cleaning tools, and more particularly to cleaning tools for cleaning ceilings and/or corners of a building.

BACKGROUND

[0003] The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

[0004] Cleaning tools, such as mops, or poles may be used to remove spiders and spider webs from ceilings and/or corners of a building. However, after the spider webs are removed from the ceilings and/or corners, the spider webs remain attached to the mops/poles or fall to the floor. Extra work is needed to clean the mops/poles or remove the spider webs from the floor.

[0005] The issues associated with removing spider webs and disposing of the spider webs are addressed by the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

[0006] In one form, a cleaning tool is provided, which includes a handle, a mounting member attached to an end of the handle, and a disposable cleaning member removably mounted on the mounting member. The disposable cleaning member defines a cone shape.

[0007] In other features, the mounting member further includes a cone element and a bracket for mounting the cone element to the handle. The cone element includes an open cone and a tip facing an open end of the open cone. The tip is movable to open or close the open end of the open cone. The tip is movable along a longitudinal direction of the handle to eject the disposable cleaning member away from the mounting member. The tip is spring-loaded. The tip is movably mounted to the end of the handle. The bracket includes a plurality of arms extending from the handle to the cone element. The tip may be an ejector movable along a longitudinal direction of the handle and between a first position in which the ejector is disposed adjacent to the end of the handle and a second position in which the ejector is moved away from the end of the handle. The ejector is configured to eject the disposable cleaning member away from the mounting member when the ejector is moved from the first position to the second position.

[0008] In still other features, the mounting member further includes fastening features for engaging corresponding fastening features of the disposable cleaning member. The fastening features of the mounting member may include at least one clasp and the corresponding fastening features of the disposable cleaning member may include at least one lip. Alternatively, the fastening features of the mounting member may include a plurality of protrusions, and the corresponding fastening features of the disposable cleaning member may include a plurality of recesses.

[0009] In still other features, the cleaning tool further includes a release button disposed on the handle for causing the tip to eject the disposable cleaning member. The disposable cleaning member covers the cone element of the mounting member. The cone shape of the disposable cleaning member conforms to the shape of the cone element of the mounting member. The disposable cleaning member includes a sticky (or tacky) exterior surface. Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic, partial exploded view of a cleaning tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a cone element of a mounting member in an open position; [0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stack of disposable cleaning members constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 5 depicts a step of mounting a disposable cleaning member on a mounting member of a cleaning tool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; and

[0016] FIG. 6 depicts a step of finishing mounting of the disposable cleaning member on the mounting member of FIG. 5.

[0017] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cleaning tool 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure includes a handle 12, a mounting member 14 (shown in FIG. 2) attached to an end of the handle 12, and a disposable cleaning member 16 removably mounted on the mounting member 14. The handle 12 includes a proximal end 20 (shown only in FIG. 1 ) and a distal end 22 (shown only in FIG. 2) opposing the proximal end 20. A release button 24 is disposed on the proximal end 20 of the handle 12. The mounting member 14 and the disposable cleaning member 16 are mounted adjacent to the distal end 22 of the handle 12. The disposable cleaning member 16 defines a cone shape having an open end 26 facing the proximal end 20 of the handle 12 and a closed end 28 opposing the open end 26. Although the cleaning member 16 is illustrated as a cone, it should be understood that other shapes in addition to the cone, such as a cylinder with a cone shaped tip, may also be employed while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0020] As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the mounting member 14 is mounted to the distal end 22 of the handle 12 and includes a bracket 30 and a cone element 32. The bracket 30 includes a plurality of arms 34 extending from the handle 12 to an end of the cone element 32 for mounting the cone element 32 to the handle 12. The mounting member 14 further includes fastening features 38 for engaging corresponding fastening features 40 of the disposable cleaning member 16. In one form, the fastening features 38 of the mounting member 14 may includes clasps, and the corresponding fastening features 40 of the disposable cleaning member 16 may include lips. In another form, the fastening features 38 of the mounting member 14 may include protrusions protruding from an outer surface of the cone element 32, and the corresponding fastening features 40 of the disposable cleaning member 16 may include recesses recessed from an inner surface of the disposable cleaning member 16. Alternately, the fastening features may be in the form of protrusions from an inner surface of the cone element 32 (not shown), among other possible variations of fastening features.

[0021] As clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cone element 32 of the mounting member 14 includes an open cone 42 and a tip 44 for closing an adjacent open end 48 of the open cone 42. The tip 44 is mounted to the distal end 22 of the handle 12 and is movable along a longitudinal direction of the handle 12 between a closed position in which the tip 44 closes the adjacent open end 48 of the open cone 42 (as shown in FIG. 2) and an open position in which the tip 44 is moved away from the open cone 42 (as shown in FIG. 3). The tip 44 functions as an ejector for ejecting the disposable cleaning member 16 away from the mounting member 14 to facilitate removal of the disposable cleaning member 16 when the disposable cleaning member 16 becomes soiled.

[0022] In one form, the tip 44 is connected to the distal end 22 of the handle 12 by a spring member 46 such that the tip 44 is biased against the open cone 42 in the closed position. When a user pushes the release button 24, the spring force of the spring member 46 is released to move the tip 44 away from the open cone 42 to an open position. In another form, the tip 44 may be configured to be movable between the open and closed positions by hand.

[0023] Referring back to FIG. 2, the disposable cleaning member 16 has a cone shape conforming to the shape of the cone element 32 of the mounting member 14 such that the disposable cleaning member 16 fits over the cone element 32 of the mounting member 14. The disposable cleaning member 16 may be secured to the mounting member 14 by engaging the locking features 38 and 40 of the mounting member 14 and the disposable cleaning member 16. The disposable cleaning member 16 has a closed cone shape to provide improved rigidity. The disposable cleaning member 16 may optionally include a tacky exterior surface to facilitate adherence of the spider webs or dusts on the disposable cleaning member 16 during cleaning. Before use, the tacky exterior surface may be covered by a wax paper.

[0024] To clean ceilings or corners of walls, a user may hold the handle 12 of the cleaning tool 12 to make the disposable cleaning member 16 reach the ceiling or any part to be cleaned. Unwanted objects, such as spiders, spider webs, debris, or dusts, may be adhered to the tacky exterior surface of the disposable cleaning member 16. The cone shape of the disposable cleaning member 16 allows a user to easily spin the disposable cleaning member 16 to achieve a better result.

[0025] After cleaning, the user may press the release button 24 to release the spring member 46 to move the tip 44 to the open position, thereby ejecting the disposable cleaning member 16 away from the mounting member 14. Therefore, the soiled disposable cleaning member 16 may be easily disposed of without the need to touch it.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, a plurality of disposable cleaning members 16 may be stacked in an upright position, or alternately a horizontal position, among others, and received in a container or holder 50 with the open ends facing up. This arrangement facilitates mounting of the disposable cleaning member 16 on the mounting member 14 of the cleaning tool 12. The interior surfaces of the disposable cleaning members 16 are non-tacky. In the stack of the disposable cleaning members 16, the exterior tacky surfaces of the disposable cleaning members may be covered by a wax paper.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 5, to mount a disposable cleaning member 16 on the mounting member 14 of the cleaning tool 10, the mounting member 14 that is attached to the handle 12 may be inserted into the stack of disposable cleaning members 16. The disposable cleaning member 16 may be easily attached to the mounting member 14 when the fastening features 38 of the mounting member 14 engage the fastening features 40 of the disposable cleaning member 16. When the fastening features 38 of the mounting member 14“click” on the fastening features 40 of the disposable cleaning member 16, the cleaning tool 12 may be moved away from the stack of the disposable cleaning members 16. The cleaning tool 12 is ready for use after the wax paper is peeled off to expose the tacky exterior surface of the disposable cleaning member 16.

[0028] Alternatively, the disposable cleaning member 16 may be attached to the mounting member 14 of the cleaning tool 12 by placing one single disposable cleaning member 16 on the mounting member 14 to cause the fastening features 38 and 40 to engage each other.

[0029] The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1 . A cleaning tool comprising:

a handle;

a mounting member attached to an end of the handle; and a disposable cleaning member removably mounted on the mounting member,

wherein the disposable cleaning member defines a cone shape.

2. The cleaning tool according to Claim 1 , wherein the mounting member includes a tip movable along a longitudinal direction of the handle to eject the disposable cleaning member away from the mounting member.

3. The cleaning tool according to Claim 2, wherein the tip is spring- loaded.

4. The cleaning tool according to Claim 2, wherein the tip is movably mounted to the end of the handle.

5. The cleaning tool according to Claim 2, further comprising a release button disposed on the handle for causing the tip to eject the disposable cleaning member.

6. The cleaning tool according to Claim 1 , wherein the mounting member includes fastening features for engaging corresponding fastening features of the disposable cleaning member.

7. The cleaning tool according to Claim 6, wherein the fastening features of the mounting member include at least one clasp and the corresponding fastening features of the disposable cleaning member include at least one lip.

8. The cleaning tool according to Claim 6, wherein the fastening features of the mounting member include a plurality of protrusions, and the corresponding fastening features of the disposable cleaning member include a plurality of recesses.

9. The cleaning tool according to Claim 1 , wherein the mounting member comprises a cone element and a bracket for mounting the cone element to the handle.

10. The cleaning tool according to Claim 9, wherein the cone element includes an open cone having an open end, and a tip facing the open end, the tip being movable to open or close the open end of the open cone.

1 1. The cleaning tool according to Claim 9, wherein the bracket includes a plurality of arms extending from the handle to the cone element.

12. The cleaning tool according to Claim 9, wherein the disposable cleaning member covers the cone element of the mounting member.

13. The cleaning tool according to Claim 12, wherein the cone shape of the disposable cleaning member conforms to the shape of the cone element of the mounting member.

14. The cleaning tool according to Claim 1 , wherein the disposable cleaning member includes a tacky exterior surface.

15. The cleaning tool according to Claim 1 , wherein the mounting member includes an ejector movable along a longitudinal direction of the handle and between a first position in which the ejector is disposed adjacent to the end of the handle and a second position in which the ejector is moved away from the end of the handle, the ejector being configured to eject the disposable cleaning member away from the mounting member when the ejector is moved from the first position to the second position.