GB2119235A

GB2119235A - Cleaning device

Info

Publication number: GB2119235A
Application number: GB08309312A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Christopher Graham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-04-07
Filing date: 1983-04-06
Publication date: 1983-11-16
Also published as: GB8309312D0

Abstract

A device which may be used in conjunction with solvents, scouring liquids and liquid detergents. The main body of the device (the handle) has a removable cap at one end, allowing the hollow interior of the handle to be filled with the required liquid cleaning agent. A choice of heads (each fitted with a different surface for cleaning, such as swab, sponge, scourer, bristles) may be fitted onto and removed from this bottom end of the handle by a slide and clip arrangement with a corresponding slide/ channel in the base of the handle. A raised section on top of each head forces the clip/valve to open when pressure is exerted by the user in a downward motion against the item being cleaned, allowing the liquid cleaning agent to pass through the clip/valve into the head itself, and thus onto the item being cleaned in a controlled way. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cleaning brush The proposed design is for a device which may provide an improved replacement for such items as conventional cleaning brushes, abrasive pads, sponges or swabs used in domestic or industrial cleaning activities, particularly when used in conjunction with Solvents, scouring liquids and liquid detergents.

The device will fulfill the various roles by having a range of interchangeable heads, each of which having textured surfaces suitable for the different applications; a brush head, a 'sponge' head and an abrasive pad head (scourer).

The range of heads are individually attached to the main body (handle) component by a slide and clip arrangement with a corresponding slide/channel in the base of the handle.

The heads are simple to replace, yet are permanently attached while in position.

The head is basically an injection moulded component of a suitably tolerenced plastic with a resistance to the range of solvents used, onto which the textured surfaces are attatched.

The head component is of a rectangular or square shape with an angled end which acts as both a stop (when attatched to the handle) and also allows the brush/sponge/scourer to be radiused to facilitate the cleaning of less accessible areas.

The main body (handle component) of the device is a hollow moulding (either blow moulding or vacuum forming) which acts as a reservoir for the fluid cleaning agent. All liquids used must be of a similar viscosity to common "washing-up' liquid/detergent.

The slide and clip feature of the handle component is an inset (female) integral part of the moulding in which the clip component serves two functions: 1) As a retaining clip for the head component 2) As a regulator for the flow of fluid from inside the handle component to the textured head.

The clip is basically of a rectangular shape slotted around three sides (two longest and one shortest dimensionally). The width of this slot is tolerenced to suit the viscosity of the fluid to allow a slow, even flow of the fluid when the handle is held vertically (with the head atthe base), without the head component being fitted.

With the head component fitted, the clip area of the main body is under tension, and as such is lifted upwards when pressure is exerted by the operator, thus increasing the aperture and allowing fluid to flow through.

The tracks of the slide are tolerenced in such a way that when the device is pressed against any surface the tracks (male) of the head component will rise further, thus forcing the clip to open further and increasing the aperture for fluid flow. In this way the device can be guaranteed to supply a usable quantity of fluid when in use.

The forces acting on the fluid are therefore; 1) Gravitational-when in use the clip/valve is always at the base of the device.

2) Capillary action-the interface surfaces of the head component and the main (handle) component will induce a certain amount of flow.

3) Induction-the constant dispersal of fluid through usage will cause the fluid to be drawn through.

The moulded head component passes the fluid cleaning agent to the contact surface via slotted apertures corresponding and adjacent to the slotted lengths of the clip/valve.

The device can be replenished with liquid cleaning agent by a removable cap situated at the opposite end of the device to the head component and clip/valve.

1. For a hand held cleaning brush/ sponge/abrasive pad with a self contained fluid reservoir in the handle, to contain suitable solvents, scouring liquids and detergents compatible with projected industrial and domestic applications.

2. The aforementioned cleaning surface (brush/sponge/abrasive pad) is individually attatched to an interchangable head.

3. The interchangable head mechanism mentioned in Claim 2 above is dual purpose in that the clip/valve acts as a retaining clip for the interchangable head components. Secondarily, in retaining the pressure required on the clip it has the effect of opening the clip/valve, allowing the liquid held in the reservoir in the handle to flow through into the head component and thus into the cleaning surface.

4. The action of dissipating the fluid contents into the textured surface of the head component relies on gravitational force through the device being used in its normal attitude to which the handle lends itself i.e.

held vertically.

5. The interface area between the head component and the main body component will induce capillary action causing the fluid to be evenly distributed into the cleaning surface mentioned in Claim 2.

6. It should be noted that the clip/valve only operates in an on or off capacity and does not in itself force the fluid from the handle (reservoir) into the head component.

7. When used in a cleaning operation in conjunction with water the fluid will be dispersed from the aforementioned cleaning surface.

8. The slotted aperture of the valve is

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cleaning brush The proposed design is for a device which may provide an improved replacement for such items as conventional cleaning brushes, abrasive pads, sponges or swabs used in domestic or industrial cleaning activities, particularly when used in conjunction with Solvents, scouring liquids and liquid detergents. The device will fulfill the various roles by having a range of interchangeable heads, each of which having textured surfaces suitable for the different applications; a brush head, a 'sponge' head and an abrasive pad head (scourer). The range of heads are individually attached to the main body (handle) component by a slide and clip arrangement with a corresponding slide/channel in the base of the handle. The heads are simple to replace, yet are permanently attached while in position. The head is basically an injection moulded component of a suitably tolerenced plastic with a resistance to the range of solvents used, onto which the textured surfaces are attatched. The head component is of a rectangular or square shape with an angled end which acts as both a stop (when attatched to the handle) and also allows the brush/sponge/scourer to be radiused to facilitate the cleaning of less accessible areas. The main body (handle component) of the device is a hollow moulding (either blow moulding or vacuum forming) which acts as a reservoir for the fluid cleaning agent. All liquids used must be of a similar viscosity to common "washing-up' liquid/detergent. The slide and clip feature of the handle component is an inset (female) integral part of the moulding in which the clip component serves two functions: 1) As a retaining clip for the head component 2) As a regulator for the flow of fluid from inside the handle component to the textured head. The clip is basically of a rectangular shape slotted around three sides (two longest and one shortest dimensionally). The width of this slot is tolerenced to suit the viscosity of the fluid to allow a slow, even flow of the fluid when the handle is held vertically (with the head atthe base), without the head component being fitted. With the head component fitted, the clip area of the main body is under tension, and as such is lifted upwards when pressure is exerted by the operator, thus increasing the aperture and allowing fluid to flow through. The tracks of the slide are tolerenced in such a way that when the device is pressed against any surface the tracks (male) of the head component will rise further, thus forcing the clip to open further and increasing the aperture for fluid flow. In this way the device can be guaranteed to supply a usable quantity of fluid when in use. The forces acting on the fluid are therefore; 1) Gravitational-when in use the clip/valve is always at the base of the device. 2) Capillary action-the interface surfaces of the head component and the main (handle) component will induce a certain amount of flow. 3) Induction-the constant dispersal of fluid through usage will cause the fluid to be drawn through. The moulded head component passes the fluid cleaning agent to the contact surface via slotted apertures corresponding and adjacent to the slotted lengths of the clip/valve. The device can be replenished with liquid cleaning agent by a removable cap situated at the opposite end of the device to the head component and clip/valve. CLAIMS

held vertically.

8. The slotted aperture of the valve is tolerenced so that the viscosity of the fluid will prevent fluid escaping or leaking from the head component when the said head component is removed.

9. The greater the pressure applied onto the cleaning surface the greater the amount of fluid allowed to pass through due to the incresed deflection of the valve.

10. The reservoir is refillable by a removable cap at the opposite end of the handle to the head.

11. The cap mentioned in Claim 10 is ventilated.

12. The head component is attached onto.

the main handle component by a sliding.

male/female clip arrangement.