A CLEANING IMPLEMENT HAVING A PROTECTED PATHWAY FOR A FLUID TRANSFER TUBE

A CLEANING IMPLEMENT HAVING A PROTECTED PATHWAY FOR A FLUID TRANSFER TUBE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of cleaning implements, and more particularly to a collapsible cleaning implement having a universal joint which encases and protects a fluid transfer tube withm the universal joint, wherein the fluid transfer tube transports fluid from a reservoir on the cleaning implement to a sprayer nozzle on the cleaning head.

Background of the Invention

Cleaning implements are known, particularly cleaning implements having a mop head attached to a handle by a universal joint. Typically, these cleaning implements have a fluid reservoir attached to the handle and which dispense fluid to the cleaning head using a fluid transfer tube. However, these conventional cleaning implements attach the fluid transfer tube along the exteπor of the mop, specifically, the exteπor of the universal joint. In this way, the fluid transfer tube can become entangled in the universal joint and inhibit the movement of the mop head. In addition, the fluid transfer tube may become pinched or cπmped by the universal joint and restrict, or completely block, the fluid transfer tube. As a result, conventional cleaning implements which utilize a universal joint and an external fluid transfer tube can have limited movement of the mop head and/or restricted fluid flow to the cleaning head.

In addition, most conventional cleaning implements utilize a handle having a straight shaft which is not collapsible or foldable This significantly limits the ability to transport the cleaning implement using minimal space. In addition, the user is unable to manipulate the handle for smaller cleaning spaces and/or for storage. Therefore, what is needed is a cleaning implement having a collapsible handle and a universal joint which encases the fluid transfer tube within the universal joint to prevent the transfer tube from inhibiting the movement of the universal joint, and subsequently the mop head, and to prevent the fluid transfer tube from becoming cπmped and restricting fluid flow to the mop head.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cleaning implement.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible cleaning implement, comprising a reservoir for retaining a fluid, a dispenser attached to the reservoir by a universal joint, and a fluid transfer tube connected to the reservoir in open communication with the dispenser, wherein the fluid transfer tube is positioned withm the universal joint to prevent the fluid transfer tube from becoming entangled with the universal joint.

Bπef Descπption of the Drawings FIG. la and lb are a cross-sectional view (FIG. la) of the preferred cleaning implement having a ball (FIG. lb) and fork universal joint with a protected pathway for a fluid transfer tube according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2a-2c is a front, cross-sectional and bottom view of the preferred universal joint fork according to the present invention. FIG. 3a and 3b are side views of the preferred cleaning implement with the handle in the assembled (FIG. 3 a) and collapsed and folded (FIG. 3b) state according to the present invention. FIG. 4a-4c are assembled (FIG. 4a), unassembled (FIG. 4b) and cross-sectional (FIG. 4c) views of the preferred joint between the upper and middle sections and middle and lower sections of the handle according to the present invention.

Detailed Descπption

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the preferred cleaning implement 10 compπses a mop head 11 having a dispenser 12 attached to a fluid reservoir 13 by a universal joint 14. The reservoir 13 is in open communication with the dispenser 12 via a fluid transfer tube 15. The reservoir 13 preferably includes a handle 16 but may be used without a separate handle without deviating from the intent of the invention. In addition, the preferred dispenser 12 is a sprayer nozzle but may comprise a variety of dispensers without deviating from the intent of the invention.

The universal joint 14 compπses a substantially hollow ball 17 (FIG. la) and a fork 18

(FIG. 2) for retaining the ball 17 using a pin 19 and providing a pathway 20 for the fluid transfer tube 15. Preferably, the ball 17 is attached to the mop head 1 1 while the fork 18 is attached to the reservoir 13. However, alternatively, the ball 17 may be attached to the reservoir 13 and the fork 18 may be alternately attached to the mop head 11

Referπng to FIG lb, the ball 17 preferably has a truncated face 21 which snappmgly engages the mop head 11, a slot 22 for receiving the tube 15 and a through opening 23 for engaging a connecting pin 24 of the fork 18 The truncated face 21 provides an opening for the tube 15 to pass and connect to the sprayer nozzle 12. The slot 22 m the back of the ball 17 provides the passageway to guide the tube 15 as the fork 18 is rotated about the pin 24. The fork 18 is attached to the ball 17 by the connecting pin 24 and pivots about the axis created by the pin 24 The universal joint 14, specifically the slot 22 of the ball 17, provides an unobstructed passageway through the joint 14 for the tube 15 to pass without inhibiting the movement of the universal joint 14 or the fork 18. Duπng rotation, the fork 18 guides the tube 15 up or down within the slot 22 of the ball 17 to allow movement of the cleaning implement 10 without pinching or kinking of the tube 15. Refemng to FIG. 3, the handle 16 preferably compπses an upper, middle and lower telescoping sections 25, 26, and 27, respectively. The upper section 25 is positioned between a pπmary gπp 28 and a secondary gπp 29 and collapses telescopically into the middle section 26. The middle section 26 is positioned between the other two sections 25 and 27 and is preferably larger m diameter than the sections 25 and 27. The middle section 26 can be separated from the lower section 27 and folded over as shown in FIG. 3b The upper section 25 and middle section

26 remain connected by a wiπng harness 30 which is preferably connected to the pπmary gπp 28 and the dispenser 12 and is exposed in the folded state (FIG. 3b). The wiπng harness 30 has sufficient slack to enable the sections 25, 26 and 27 to be disengaged without exposing the wiπng harness 30 unnecessaπly. The lower section 27 is positioned between the reservoir 13 and the middle section 26. In this manner, the handle 16 of the cleaning implement 10 may be collapsed from the assembled state (FIG. 3a) to the collapsed and folded state (FIG. 3b).

Referπng to FIG. 4, the preferred joint 31 is illustrated in the unassembled (FIG. 4a) and assembled (FIG. 4b) state. The preferred joint compπses a bushing 32 which is inserted m each end of the middle section 26 using a press fit and provides a wobble free connection between the sections 25, 26 and 27. The upper and lower sections 25 and 27 each have a spπng loaded locking pin 33 which lock gly engages an opening 34 such that the pm 33 protrudes through the opening 34 as shown in FIG. 4c when the pm 33 and the opening 34 are axially aligned.

To lock the handle 16 m place as shown m FIG. 3a. the upper and lower sections 25 and

27 are inserted within the bushing 32 of the middle section 2υ such that the pin 33 engages a slot 35 of the bushing 32. The slot 35 guides the spnng loaded pm 33 into the opening 34 which allows the p 33 to lockmgly engage the opening 34. To disengage the upper and lower sections 25 and 27 from the middle section 26, the pin 33 is depressed from the opening 34 while the upper and lower sections 25 and 27 are s deably removed from the middle section 26. While the embodiment of the invention shown and descπbed is fully capable of achieving the results desired, it is to be understood that this embodiment has been shown and descπbed for purposes of illustration only and not for purposes of limitation. Other vaπations in the form and details that occur to those skilled in the art and which are withm the spiπt and scope of the invention are not specifically addressed. Therefore, the invention is limited only by the appended claims.