GB2159698A

GB2159698A - Cleaning device

Info

Publication number: GB2159698A
Application number: GB08411679A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barrie Abram David Levison
Original assignee: ALPHAPLAN Ltd
Current assignee: ALPHAPLAN Ltd
Priority date: 1984-05-08
Filing date: 1984-05-08
Publication date: 1985-12-11
Also published as: AU4191485A; EP0161907A3; EP0161907A2; GB8411679D0; JPS6122836A

Abstract

A cleaning device comprises a work head (1) carried by a handle (2) which constitutes a reservoir for a cleaning liquid (3) to be dispensed by way of the head (1) during use of the device, the reservoir (2) communicating with the head (1) by way of a valve (8) which is normally closed but which is opened on engagement of the head (1) with a surface to be cleaned. <IMAGE>

Description

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GB2 159 698 A

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SPECIFICATION Cleaning device

5 This invention relates to a cleaning device, and particularly to a cleaning device comprising a work head carried by a handle which incorporates a reservoir for a cleaning liquid to be dispensed byway of the work head during use of the device.

10 Such a device is known in which the handle is hollow and constitutes the reservoir, there being a discharge hole from the reservoir, by way of which cleaning liquid contained in the reservoir can leave the reservoir and enter the work head which is detachably 15 mounted on one end of the handle overthe discharge hole in the reservoir.

In the known device the work head comprises a sponge-like member which is compressed during use of the device, such compression serving to draw 20 cleaning liquid from the reservoirthrough the discharge hole which is open at all times, the reservoir being otherwise sealed in air-tight manner.

Forcertain cleaning operations, forexample cleaning lavatory bowls, it is necessary to use a device 25 having a work head in theform of a brush, the use of any sponge-like member on the work head being impractical for reasons of hygiene.

Thus, a known cleaning device as discussed above is not suitable for such certain cleaning operations 30 since cleaning liquid could leak from the reservoir through the discharge hole when the device is not in use, particularly in the case of devices for cleaning lavatory bowls, which are normally kept in a vertical position, work head down, when not in use. 35 According to this invention there is provided a cleaning device comprising a work head carried by a handle which incorporates a reservoirfor a cleaning liquid to be dispensed byway of the work head during use of the device, in which the reservoir communi-40 cates with the work head by way of a normally closed discharge valve which is opened on application of the work head to a surface to be cleaned.

The device of this invention has the advantage that cleaning liquid can leave the reservoir only when the 45 discharge valve is open, the valve being automatically opened during use of the device to allow cleaning liquid to pass to the work head as required. Further, the device can be kept in work-head-down condition when notin usewithoutany leakage of cleaning liquid 50 from the reservoir occurring.

Two cleaning devices according to this invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which:—

Figure 1 is a side view of either device;

55 Figure 2 is a sectional viewthrough the work head end of a first device in a first condition;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but with the first device in a second condition; and

Figure 4 is a sectional viewthrough the work head 60 end of the second device.

Referring to Figures 1,2 and 3, the cleaning device comprises a work head 1 carried bya handle2which also constitutes a reservoirfor a cleaning liquid 3to be dispensed by the work head 1 during use of the device.

The handle 2 is a hollow elongate transparent member moulded from high tensile polyvinylchloride, having an open end 4 by which the liquid 3 can be introduced into the handle 2, the open end 4 being closed after introduction of the liquid 3, by a cap 5 which is in screw-thread engagement with the handle 2.

The other end 6 of the handle 2 terminates in an enlarged circularcross-section portion 6 closed by an end wall 7 having a valve member 8 mounted at its centre.

The work head 1 comprises a plastics material moulding providing a resilient diaphragm 9 having a plurality of bristle members 10 projecting from one surface. The diaphragm 9 is formed with an upstanding peripheral flange 11 by which the work head 1 can be mounted on the end portion 6 of the handle 2 in a clip-on arrangement.

The valve 8 consists of a body member 12 secured in a hole in the wall 7 of the handle/reservoir 2, and a plunger member 13 comprising a stem carrying at one end a closure member which co-operates with a hole in the body member 12 to provide the valve action, and carrying at the other end an enlarged head by which the plunger member 13 is connected to the diaphragm 9.

The arrangement is such that when the device is not in use the diaphragm 9 of the work head 1 is bowed outwardly as shown in Figure 2, and serves to hold the valve 8 in a normally closed condition with the enlarged head on the stem closing the hole in the body member.

When the device is used the bristle members are engaged with an object to be cleaned, and the engagement pressure causes the diaphragm 9 to be distorted inwardly as shown in Figure 3. This distortion of the diaphragm causes the plunger member 13 ofthevalve8to be moved relative to the body member 12 thereof such thatthe enlarged head of the plunger member is lifted out of the hole in the body member whereby cleaning liquid 3 can flow from the handle/reservoir 2 into the space between the diaphragm 9 andthe wall 7 ofthe handle/reservoir2, and from there through holes in the diaphragm 9 to be discharged between the bristle members 10 as required. The discharge flow ofthe cleaning liquid 3 is indicated by arrows in Figure 3.

When cleaning is finished andthe bristles 10 are disengaged from the object being cleaned the diaphragm 9 reverts to its outwardly bowed condition as shown in Figure 2, thereby closing the valve 8 to prevent loss of liquid from the handle/reservoir 2.

Referring nowto Figure 4, parts ofthe device here shown corresponding to parts ofthe device of Figures 2 and 3 have been given the same reference numerals.

In this second device the valve 8 again comprises a body member 12 secured in a hole in the wall 7 ofthe handle/reservoir 2, and a plunger member 13 comprising a stem carrying at one end a closure member which co-operates with a hole in the body member 12

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The Drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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GB 2 159 698 A 2

to provide the valve action. The stem ofthe plunger member 13 is realtively long and projects through the diaphragm9oftheworkhead 1 to terminate adjacent the free ends ofthe bristle members 10.

5 The valve 8 is completed by a spring member 14 acting between the plunger member 13 and the body member 12 to hold the valve 8 in a normally closed condition asshown in Figure4.

In use of this second device, engagement ofthe 10 bristle members 10 with an objectto be cleaned also brings the stem of the plunger member 13 of the valve 8 into engagement with the object, the plunger member 13 thus being moved relative to the body member 12 ofthe valve 8, against the action ofthe 15 spring member 14, to open the valve member 8 and allow cleaning liquid 3 from the handle/reservoir 2 to discharge from the device, as described forthe device ofFigures2and3.

When cleaning is finished and the work head 1 is 20 disengaged from the object being cleaned, the spring member 14 will return the valve 8 to its closed condition thereby preventing any further discharge of cleaning liquid 3 from the device.

Either ofthe devices described above can be kept in 25 a vertical position with the work head 1 atthe bottom, when not in use, without leakage of cleaning liquid 3 occuring, since when the device is not in use the valve 8 is maintained in the closed conditions either by the diaphragm 9 in the device of Figures 1,2, and 3, or by 30 thespringmember14inthedeviceofFigures 1 and4.

The use of a clip-on work head 1 as described gives the advantage that when necessary a used work head 1 can be removed from the handle/reservoir 2 and discarded, to be replaced by a new work head 1. In 35 view ofthe material from which it is made, the handle/reservoir2can be sterilized by boiling when the work head 1 has been removed.

A newwork head 1 can be provided in a package which, after removal ofthe newwork head 1 40 therefrom, can be used to remove the old work head 1 from the device such that contact with the old work head 1 can be avoided in the interests of hygiene. CLAIMS

1. Acleaning device comprising a work head

45 carried by a handle which incorporates a reservoirfor a cleaning liquid to be dispensed by way ofthe work head during use ofthe device, in which the reservoir communicates with the work head by way of a normally closed discharge valve which is opened on 50 application ofthe work head to a surface to be cleaned.

2. A devices as claimed in Claim 1, in which the workhead comprises a resilient diaphragm which is connected to a plunger member ofthe valve the resilience ofthe diaphragm serving to hold the valve

55 in the closed condition when the device is not in use, and distortion ofthe diaphragm during use ofthe device serving to move the plunger memberto open the valve.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, in which the 60 valve consists of said plunger member and a cooperating body member secured in a wall ofthe reservoir.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the valve has a plunger member which projects into the

65 work head and which, during use ofthe device.

engages a surface being cleaned thereby to open the valve.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 4, in which the valve consists of said plunger member, a co-operating body member secured in a wall ofthe reservoir, and a spring member acting between said plunger member and said body memberto hold the valve in a normally closed condition.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 4or Claim 5, in which the work head comprises a diaphragm through which said plunger member projects.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 2,3, or 6, in which said diaphragm carries a plurality of bristle members.

8. Adevice as claimed in Claim 7, in which said diaphragm and bristle members are constituted by a plastics material moulding.

9. A device as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, in which said diaphragm is formed with a plurality of holes byway of which liquid leaving the reservoir through the valve when open is discharged between the bristle members.

10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the work head is detachably mounted on the handle as a clip-on arrangement.

11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the handle constitutes the reservoir.

12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the handle and reservoir are formed by a plastics material moulding.

13. Adevice as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the reservoir has a filler hole through which liquid can be introduced into the reservoirand which can be closed by a cap in a screw-thread engagement with the reservoir.

14. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the reservoir istransparent.

15. In or for a cleaning device as claimed in Claim 1, a valve consisting of a body member having a hole therethrough; a plunger member comprising a stem passing through the hole in the body member with clearance and carrying at one end a closure member adapted to co-operate with the hole in the body memberto provide a valve action; and a spring member acting between the body member and the plunger memberto hold the valve in a normally closed condition with the closure member of the plunger member closing the hole in the body member.

16. A valve as claimed in Claim 15, in which the body member, plunger member and spring member are all plastics material members.

17. Acleaning device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1,2, and 3, or Figures 1 and 4, ofthe drawing.

Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 8818935, 12/85,18996. Published at the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.

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