Title: Portable cleaning device
Abstract: An integrated cleaning system including a casing for storing a cleaning agent, a pump sprayer seated in said casing for dispensing the cleaning agent to a desired surface, a towel for cleaning the desired surface, and a towel stowing mechanism to extend the towel between a first extended position for use and a second stored position for storing the towel in the casing. The towel stowing mechanism may be rotated to stow the towel in the second position. In another embodiment the towel stowing means, when initiated by a user, automatically retracts the towel into the second position.
Patent Number: 6,883,989 Issued on 04/26/2005 to Kushner, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Kushner; Robert Gerald (Flat G, 13th Floor Block G, Merry Terrace, 4 Seymour Road, Mid-levels, Hong Kong, HK);
Koehler; John H (P.O. Box 3791, Jackson, WY 83001)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
353700 |
| Filed:
|
January 29, 2003 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
401/125; 401/195; 222/192; 206/226 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A46B 011//00 |
| Field of Search: |
401/125,195,137,139
222/192
206/225,226,229,233
242/385.2
15/149.4,199.2,199.3
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 603316 | May., 1898 | Bush.
| |
| 1255772 | Feb., 1918 | Miller.
| |
| 1523297 | Jan., 1925 | Savery.
| |
| 1582645 | Apr., 1926 | Findley.
| |
| 2098477 | Nov., 1937 | Welsh.
| |
| 4389132 | Jun., 1983 | Valadez.
| |
| 4436224 | Mar., 1984 | McInerny.
| |
| 4516676 | May., 1985 | Cournoyer.
| |
| 4796751 | Jan., 1989 | Madkour.
| |
| 4818134 | Apr., 1989 | Tsai.
| |
| 4854449 | Aug., 1989 | Fitzhugh.
| |
| 5000204 | Mar., 1991 | Smith.
| |
| 5083661 | Jan., 1992 | Burwell.
| |
| 5131112 | Jul., 1992 | Cervini.
| |
| 5439104 | Aug., 1995 | Wolska-Klis.
| |
| 5444890 | Aug., 1995 | Higginson.
| |
| 5671872 | Sep., 1997 | Daniels, Jr.
| |
| 5694659 | Dec., 1997 | Merrion.
| |
| 5819989 | Oct., 1998 | Saraceni.
| |
| 6321937 | Nov., 2001 | DeSimone et al.
| |
Primary Examiner: Huson; Gregory L.
Assistant Examiner: Le; Huyen
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This Application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Application
Ser. No. 60/353,749 filed on Jan. 29, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
1. A portable cleaning device comprising:
a casing having a towel extending opening;
a winder disposed inside of the casing; and
a reusable cloth towel attached on a first end thereof to the winder and a second
end thereof exposed outside of the casing through the towel extending opening,
wherein said winder is configured allow a user to extend the reusable cloth towel
from the casing to a first position for cleaning, and to retract the reusable cloth
towel to a second position in the casing for storage; and
a spring-biased retract mechanism operative to retract the reusable cloth towel
from the first position to the second position upon initiation of the spring-biased
retract mechanism by a user.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the reusable cloth towel may be retracted into
the casing around said winder.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the casing includes a receptacle for accommodating
a cleaning agent.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein the receptacle is configured to receive a cleaning
agent delivery apparatus.
5. The device of claim 3 further comprising a cap operative to enclose the receptacle.
6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a spray mechanism disposed in said
casing and operative to deliver a provided cleaning solution to a desired location.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the spray mechanism comprises spray nozzle.
8. The device of claim 6 wherein the spray mechanism comprises a self-contained
spray apparatus.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein the cloth comprises a micro-fiber cloth.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein the cloth comprises a cotton cloth.
11. The device of claim 1 further comprising a retaining mechanism operative
to attach the device to a desired location.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the retaining mechanism is a clip.
13. A portable cleaning system comprising:
a body portion having an opening and a receptacle;
a towel stowed in the body portion and configured to be extended through said
opening by pulling on the towel;
a spray mechanism disposed in said receptacle and operative to deliver a cleaning
agent to a desired area; and
a towel retract mechanism configured to enable a user to retract the towel from
an extended position into the body portion, wherein the towel retract mechanism
comprises a spring-loaded mechanism operative to retract the towel into the body
portion upon pushing of a button.
14. A portable device for cleaning objects, the device comprising:
a casing including spray means for applying a cleaning agent, wiping means for
removing applied cleaning agent and/or soil, winding means for extending and retracting
the wiping means between a first extended position and a second retracted position,
wherein the winding means includes spring-loaded means for automated retraction
of said wiping means.
15. A portable cleaning device comprising:
a casing having a towel extending opening;
a winder movably attached inside of the casing;
a spring-biased retract mechanism in communication with the winder and casing;
an absorbent towel attached on a first end thereof to the winder and a second
end thereof exposed outside of the casing, wherein the towel may be extended from
the casing through the towel extending opening by pulling on the second end and
wherein the towel may be retracted by initiating the spring-biased retract mechanism;
and
a clip disposed on an outer surface of the casing for attaching the portable
cleaning device to a desired surface.
16. The portable cleaning device of claim 15 further comprising:
a spray bottle, and wherein the casing includes a receptacle adapted to hold
the spray bottle substantially within the casing.
17. The portable cleaning device of claim 15 wherein the absorbent towel comprises
a micro-fiber cloth.
18. The portable cleaning device of claim 15 wherein the absorbent towel comprises
a cotton cloth.
19. The portable cleaning device of claim 15 wherein the absorbent towel comprises
a disposable material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention pertains to a device for cleaning objects such as eyeglasses,
sunglasses, lenses, golf balls, mirrors and other items. More particularly, the
invention relates to a portable integrated system, which is capable of delivering
a cleaning agent to a surface for cleaning and withdrawing the same in a convenient
and efficient manner.
2. Background Art
It is frequently necessary to remove dirt, films, moisture and other soiling
materials
from objects in one's possession, e.g., sunglasses. Often, such soiling materials
need to be removed while in transit or away from where conventional cleaning materials
may be stored. Previous attempts have been made to provide integrated cleaning
systems that are convenient for a user, and some that are portable. Examples of
the previous attempts follow.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,104 to Wolska-Klis discloses an eyeglass cleaning station
including a compartmented housing containing a dispensing bottle of liquid lens
cleaning material and a dispensing box of disposable lens cleaning tissue. The
eyeglass-cleaning compartment may be placed on a countertop.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,661 to Burwell discloses a lens or eyeglass cleaning device
having an elongated storage container and a cleaning cloth attached to the container
with a retaining cord in a manner that the cloth may be retracted into the container
by pulling on an end of the retaining cord opposite the cloth.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,751 to Madkour discloses a portable kit for cleaning eyeglass
lenses which includes a flat, flexible container having to separately openable
compartments, one of the compartments contains a liquid eyeglass lens cleaner absorbed
on an absorbent material and the second compartment contains a dry wiping material
which may be removed to wipe lens cleaner from a lens.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,132 to Valadez and U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,134 to Tsai disclose
respective pens for cleaning eyeglasses. The Valadez eyeglass cleaning pen includes
felt tip for applying cleaning solution in a first container to a desired surface
and a second container serving as a cap and dispenser for a wiping material. The
Tsai eyeglass-cleaning pen consists of a similar felt tip pen having at least one
spectacle screwdriver removably mounted on the pen body.
The foregoing attempts, and other conventional systems, each have certain drawbacks
including; for example, certain of the above-described systems: (i) are not conveniently
suitable for portable situations (e.g., the Wolska-Klis eyeglass station); (ii)
do not include any cleaning agent whatsoever (e.g. the Burwell device for cleaning
eyeglasses) and rely solely on a cleaning cloth for removal of soils (referred
to as "dry systems"); and/or (iii) utilize small amounts of cleaning solution,
such as the type applied by a felt tip (e.g., Valadez and Tsai pens)(referred to
as "semi-dry systems").
Dry systems and semi-dry systems may work in some cases where the soiling material
present on the surface to be cleaned is minute and/or has not significantly hardened.
However dry and semi-dry systems may damage plastic lenses or UV/polarized coated
lenses and can often lead to smearing of the soiling material, as opposed to removal,
when a cleaning cloth is applied to a surface dry/semi-dry surface.
Additionally, certain of the conventional systems are complicated and
not convenient to use and are suitable only for cleaning eyeglass/sunglass lenses
(e.g., the Madkour portable kit for cleaning eyeglass lenses.)
An integrated cleaning system is desired that is relatively simple and compact,
convenient to use, effective at removing even stubborn soil and from all types
of surfaces and is portable.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment of the invention, one or more of the foregoing problems is
addressed
by providing a portable cleaning device including: a body portion having a space
for accommodating a cleaning agent, a towel attached to the body portion that may
be used to remove the cleaning agent and/or soils; and a cleaning agent dispensing
mechanism that fits into the space for delivering the cleaning agent to a desired location.
In certain embodiments of the invention, the towel is attached to the body portion
in a two-position configuration, including a first position for stowing the towel
and a second position for using the towel to remove the cleaning agent and/or soils.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the towel is stowed substantially
inside of the body when in the first position and the towel is retractably extended
substantially outside of the body when in the second position.
According to another aspect of the invention, the towel may be retracted
from the second position to the first position by a user initiating a spring retract mechanism.
In other embodiments of the invention, a user may turn a dial to retract the
towel
from the second position to the first position.
In yet a further embodiment of the invention, the cleaning agent dispensing mechanism
includes a spray nozzle and a fluid bottle configured to fit into the space of
the body.
In another embodiment of the Invention, the cleaning agent dispensing mechanism
includes a spray nozzle that seats into a fluid-containing reservoir formed in
the space of the portable cleaning device body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
Further aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of the invention in reference to the appended
drawing in which like numerals denote like elements and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable cleaning device accordingly to one
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the portable cleaning device of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate left and front side and cross-sectional views of the
portable cleaning device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4A-4C illustrate respective perspective, side and end views of a cleaning
cloth retracting element according to one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a portable cleaning device having
spring-loaded retract mechanism according to various other embodiments of the present
invention; and
FIGS. 6A-6E illustrate respective cross-sectional back, left side, and cross-sectional
end and bottom views of the portable cleaning device of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention integrates several features of a cleaning system into a
single device. Referring to FIGS. 1-4C, a portable cleaning device
100 preferably
includes a body portion
105 (also referred to herein as "casing") including
a cleaning agent reservoir
110 for stowing a cleaning agent, a dispensing
mechanism
120 for dispensing the cleaning agent to a desired location and
a towel
130 for cleaning and removing soil from the desired location.
Body portion
105 may be any mechanism having a reservoir
110 or
orifice suitable for enclosing a liquid, gel, or dry cleaning agent, or capable
of receiving a self-contained apparatus that contains the same. In one embodiment
of the invention, body portion
105 comprises a molded plastic casing. Color,
shape and selection of materials used for casing
105 is discretionary and
may vary depending on the environment for which device
100 will be exposed
as well as the type of cleaning agent selected for use. Casing
105 may be
flexible or rigid depending on the type material it is made from. Optionally, but
preferably, casing
105 includes a reservoir
110 that may be refilled
with a liquid cleaning agent through the use of, for example, a removable reservoir
cap
214 (FIG. 2) or a removable dispensing mechanism such as pump sprayer
120 (FIG. 2) or self-contained sprayer (e.g.,
520; FIG.
5).
Body portion
105 may also include an optional lid
212 to isolate
the dispensing mechanism
120 from incidental contact and/or prevent, for
example, stored cleaning agent from accidentally discharging or leaking from device
100. Lid
212 may be hinged to, and/or completely removable from body
portion
105.
Dispensing mechanism
120 may be any mechanism for transferring
a cleaning agent to a desired location, including but not limited to, a nozzle,
a hole, or a pump sprayer. In one preferred embodiment, dispensing mechanism
120
is a pumping spray nozzle operative to dispense a liquid cleaning agent such as
an alcohol-based cleaner. Dispensing mechanism
120 may be fixed to reservoir
110 or removably attached using, for example, threaded, snap or clamp attachment
mechanisms. In alternative embodiments discussed hereafter, dispensing mechanism
is a self-contained spray bottle that is accommodated in reservoir
110.
Towel
130 may be any flexible and/or absorbent material for removing
cleaning agent and/or soil from the desired location, including but not limited
to any type of man-made or naturally occurring fiber, cloth or paper or any combination
thereof. In one embodiment of the invention towel
130 comprises an absorbent
micro-fiber cleaning cloth, in other embodiments towel
130 is a cotton cloth.
Towel
130 is preferably attached to the body portion and most preferably,
attached using a retracting mechanism as described in more detail hereafter. In
other embodiments towel
130 is a plurality of disposable cloths on a roll
and separated by perforations for tearing away used cloths.
Cleaning device
100 may also optionally include retaining mechanism
116 (FIG. 1) for attaching device
100 to a desired location. Any
mechanism or combination of mechanisms suitable for this purpose may be used; for
example, in one embodiment retaining mechanism
116 comprises a clip for
attaching device
100 to a desired surface. Alternatively, or in addition,
a hole formed in device
100 and a string or chain also may serve as retaining
mechanism
116.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, towel
130 is stored substantially
in an interior portion of body portion
105 and may be extended and subsequently
retracted by hand or automatically via a towel stowing mechanism
240. Towel
stowing mechanism
240 may be any device or combination of devices for enabling
a user to utilize towel
130 (e.g., removing soil and/or cleaning agent from
a desired surface) and subsequently store towel
130 at least partially within
device
100. In one embodiment of the invention, towel stowing mechanism
240 includes a pin
242 and a winder
240.
Towel
130 may be fixed to winder
240 or removable for interchanging
towels when desired. In one embodiment, pin
242 is used to secure towel
130 to winder
244 wherein towel
130 extends through a slot
in casing
105 of device
100 and may be wound around winder
244
to stow towel
130 substantially inside casing
105. However, pin
242
may be omitted and any means for attaching towel
130 to winder
244
may be used.
A user may extend towel
130 for use simply by pulling on an exposed end
of towel
130. Subsequently, winder
244 may be rotated to retract
towel
130 substantially inside casing
105. A second pin (not shown)
may optionally be attached to the end of towel
130 remaining outside of
body portion
105. The second pin may serve to: (i) prevent towel
130
from winding completely inside body portion
105; (ii) assist in keeping
towel
130 in a substantially flat and retractable form; and (iii) provide
a grip for a user to pull on towel
130. The pins of the present invention
may be metal, plastic or any other substantially rigid material that may be suitable
for their respectively described purposes.
FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate various views of winder
244 according to one
preferred embodiment of the invention. Winder
244 is preferably configured
to have a portion
245 that is accessible by a user to wind towel
130
into casing
105. However, winder
244 may be configured with other
components to automatically retract as discussed in respect to other embodiments
hereafter. Winder
244 also includes a mechanism
246 (FIG. 4C) for
attaching towel
130. Mechanism
246 may be any mechanism for fixedly
or temporarily attaching towel
130 to winder
244. In one embodiment
mechanism
246 includes a slot
247 and a hole
248 for receiving
pin
242.
As shown, device
100 also includes optional reservoir cap
214 for
retaining liquid cleaning agent in reservoir
110. However, if reservoir
110 is not intended to be refilled, may be refilled by other means (such
as removal of dispensing mechanism
120), or is configured to receive a self
contained cleaning agent dispenser, cap
214 may be omitted. However, if
included, cap
214 is preferably configured to retain cleaning agents within
reservoir
110 without leaking using for example, a sealed threaded connection
or other sealed fastening means.
Cleaning device
100 of the present invention is an integrated system
that is portable and readily enables a user to clean, for example, eyeglasses,
sunglasses, golf balls and clubs, compact discs and other optical storage mediums,
mirrors and windows (home, office and automobiles), computer screens, cell phones,
jewelry, shoes and any other items that a user may desire to clean, using a cleaning
agent and a towel.
An exemplary method of cleaning a desired location using cleaning device
100
includes: (i) opening lid
212 on device
100; (ii) dispensing cleaning
agent to the desired location by applying pressure to the dispensing mechanism
120; (iii) pulling towel
130 from casing
105; (iv) wiping
the desired location with extended towel
130; (v) retracting towel
130
into casing
110; and (vi) closing lid
212.
Turning to FIGS.
5 and
6A-
6E, a portable cleaning device
500 according to a second embodiment of the invention includes casing
505,
winder
544 and auto retract components
530. Device
500 also
includes a towel (not shown) similar to that discussed in respect to previous embodiments.
In preferred implementations casing
505 includes a recess
501 for
receiving a self-contained spray apparatus
520. Casing
505 is also
configured to receive winder
544 and auto-retract components
530,
and optionally includes components for accommodating a cap
512 to enclose
spray apparatus
520 inside of device
500.
Winder
544 is similar to winder
244 in previously discussed
embodiments optionally omitting exposed winding surface
245 and including
one or more ratchet components
546 configured for mating with auto-retract
components
530 to provide the spring loaded retract features discussed herein.
Auto-retract components
530 serve to provide spring bias against
winder
544 when the towel is in the extended position, and a release mechanism
to facilitate user-initiated retracting of the towel into casting
505. Auto
retract components may be any mechanism or combination of mechanisms to facilitate
these purposes. In preferred implementations, auto-retract components
530
include clockwork spring
532, push button
534, push button spring
536 and end cap
538. Push button
536 includes one or more
prawls
537 for engaging with ratchet components
546 of winder
544.
Auto retract components
530 are arranged in device
500 such that
when the towel is extended, a user may depress a portion of push button
534
extending through end cap
538 to disengage prawl
537 from ratchet
components
546. Once prawl
537 is disengaged from ratchet components
546, winder
544 rotates back to its original towel stowing position,
by virtue of clockwork spring
532, and thus retracting the towel into casing
505.
The skilled artisan will recognize that there are many possible alternative arrangements
of mechanical parts that could provide user initiated auto-retract features of
the present invention. All such arrangements that provide equivalent functionality
are within the scope of the present invention.
As previously discussed, the embodiments of the present invention may be configured
to receive self-contained spray bottles. Accordingly, the device of the present
invention may be configured to accommodate commercially available portable spray
cleaners such as: Natural Eyes and Shinize brand cleaners available from Quality
Accessories, Inc., SEE SPRAY® brand cleaner available from QUIXTAR, Ultra
Clarity brand lens cleaner available from Nanofilm, and the like. Alternatively,
the device may include its own self-contained refillable spray bottle.
Unless contrary to physical possibility, the inventor envisions the methods
and systems described herein: (i) may be performed in any sequence and/or combination;
and (ii) the components of respective embodiments combined in any manner.
Although there have been described preferred embodiments of this novel invention,
many variations and modifications are possible and the embodiments described herein
are not limited by the specific disclosure above, but rather should be limited
only by the scope of the appended claims.
*
