US3490657A - Rechargeable aerosol applicator and cleaning implement - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 20, 1970 w. D. WILLIAMS ETAL 3,490,657

RECHARGEABLE AEROSOL APPLICATOR AND CLEANING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. 26, 1967 United States Patent 3,490,657 RECHARGEABLE AEROSOL APPLICATOR AND CLEANING IMPLEMENT William Dale Williams, Mahwah, and Ned Hyde Neal, Waldwick, N.J., assignors to Sterling Drug Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 670,627 Int. Cl. 865d 83/14; B65b 31/00; A46b 11/02 US. Cl. 222-399 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device including an elongated housing in one portion of which is a substantially permanent pressure container with aerosol valves at both ends thereof. A valve at one end is used for transferring a product, e.g. for cleaning, from an extraneous pressurized container outside the device into the pressure container inside the device. The other valve is used for transferring the product from the interior pressure container to a plastic tube in another portion of the housing for expression at the point of use, e.g. cleaning, where a mop may be provided to distribute the material on the surface to be processed, e.g. cleaned.

This invention relates to a new and improved rechargeable aerosol products applicator and cleaning implement, and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of an elongated tubular handle member in one end of which is contained in substantially permanent relationship therein a pressure container for an aerosol cleaning applicator or the like, such container having an exterior valve for accepting a recharge of similar material from an extraneous pressure container and there being a valve at the opposite end actuated from the outside of the handle member for releasing the pressurized cleaning material therein through an elongated plastic tube to a point of exit which may be provided with a mop or the like for distributing the cleaning material on a surface to be cleaned.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the device;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough, and

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

In describing the present invention, it is emphasized that it comprises a generally unitary single elongated housing which acts as a handle and this may be of any suitable material such as a commercial plastic. This handle comprises a generally tubular portion at which may be of any desired configuration, and integral therewith there is a gradually narrowing or conical portion 12 at the end of which there is provided a mop or some means for distributing cleaning material. The entire casing 10 and 12 is used as a handle for the manipulation of the mop and to provide the cleaning material under pressure at a product exit indicated at 16 adjacent the center position of the mop which may be held in position by any convenient means.

The portion of the device at 10 contains substantially permanently therein a pressure container 20 which is provided with a one-way acting recharging valve which is generally indicated at 22. Such valves are well known and may include a tube serving to accept the usual retractive stem 24 of an extraneous pressure container generally indicated at 26. When the stem 24 is applied to the one-way valve 22 and actuated in the usual manner, the material in the container 26 under pressure is 3,490,657 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 discharged into the pressure container 20 and refills the same ready for use. The one-way valve 22 prevents the material under pressure in presscure cylinder 20 from escaping in this direction, and as a practical matter may be in the form of an ordinary aerosol stem-type valve.

At the opposite end of container 20 there is a valve stem 28 which may be, e.g. tilt actuated, if desired. This type of valve is also well known in the art and in the present case is actuated by a finger or thumb button 30 located in a generally radial direction in the housing adjacent the juncture between the housing 10 and the conical portion thereof at 12. It will be clear that by pressing inwardly as for instance against spring or pressure means as is well known in the art, the stem 28 is activated to open so as to discharge pressurized material in the container 20 into the elongated plastic tube 32, the latter extending the length of the conical member 12.

The tube 32 may be held in position within the member 12 in any desired manner but in any event it receives the material under pressure from container 20 and delivers it to the exit opening at 16 in the area of the mop 14.

It is believed that the use and operation of this device Will be clear. The user merely grasps the housing 10 for instance in one hand and applying the mop where desired to clean a surface, depresses the button 20, tilting stem 28, causing material under pressure in container 20 to travel along the interior of tube 32 to the exit point 16. The device is long enough to be used by both hands if this should be desired or it can be used as a one-handed device also.

When the material in the container is exhausted, it is merely necessary to apply the device to the stem 24 of the container 26 and this latter container may be of large form, the cleaning device above described being brought to it, or the container 26 may be made portable and manipulated as desired in order to recharge the device.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what we claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a substantially rigid elongated hollow handle member including two generally aligned connected portions both of which are elongated, one of said portions containing a pressure container, the pressure container having an inlet valve at one end and an outlet valve at the other end, the inlet valve being located at an end of the hollow handle member, the outlet valve being located intermediate the ends thereof, the second portion of the handle member being an extension of the first-named portion and having an end tip, an elongated tube extending through the second portion of the housing from the outlet valve to an exit opening adjacent the end tip, and means to operate the outlet valve to let pressurized material out of the pressure container into the tube, so that it exits at the opening, the inlet valve providing for recharging the pressure container, the outlet valve operating means being located intermediate the ends of the hollow handle member at the ;ilt actuated valve and including a button for actuating :he tilt valve, said button extending to the exterior of the handle member.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the outlet valve is a tilt actuated valve and including a button for actuating the tilt valve, said button extending to the exterior of the handle member adjacent the area where the two handle portions join.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the portion of the handle that contains the pressure container is open at the end thereof opposite the second-named handle portion and provides ready access to the inlet valve, and including an extraneous pressure container for application to the inlet valve to resupply the same.

7. The device of claim 6 including an aerosol valve on the extraneous pressure container, the inlet valve accepting it for the resupplying action.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the elongated second portion of the hollow handle member tapers down from the area of the outlet valve to the area of the end tip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,021,850 2/1962 Smith et al. 222-402.12 X 3,181,737 5/1965 Chaucer 141-20 X 3,228,057 1/1966 Parrish 401-190 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner N. L. STACK, In, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. l4l-20; 401190

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