Cleaning implement

Abstract

A cleaning device with a sufficiently low profile to enable cleaning under appliances. The cleaning device generally includes an elongate body, a handle, and a fabric member surrounding the body. The body has oppositely-disposed first and second ends. The handle is adjacent the second end of the body and projects upward from an upper surface of the body. The fabric member preferably comprises oppositely-disposed first and second pockets, an intermediate portion connecting the first and second pockets, and an opening between the first and second pockets. The first and second pockets receive the first and second ends, respectively, of the body. The handle of the body projects out of the opening in the fabric member.

claims:  
     
         1 . A cleaning device comprising: 
 an elongate body having oppositely-disposed first and second ends, a length as measured between the first and second ends, an upper surface between the first and second ends, and a cross-section transverse to the length, the cross-section being defined by a width and a thickness of the body, the width being transverse to the length and less than the length, the thickness being transverse to the width and less than the width, the upper surface being delimited by the width and length of the body;    a handle adjacent the second end of the body and projecting upward from the upper surface of the body so as to be entirely located on one side of the body; and    a fabric member comprising a first pocket and an opening, the first end of the body being received in the first pocket and the handle projecting out of the opening in the fabric member.    
     
     
         2 . A cleaning device according to    claim 1   , wherein the cleaning device has a thickness of not greater than 20 millimeters at the first end of the body when received in the first pocket of the fabric member.  
     
     
         3 . A cleaning device according to    claim 1   , wherein the length of the body is about one meter and the width of the body is about 30 to about 40 millimeters.  
     
     
         4 . A cleaning device according to    claim 1   , wherein the body further comprises ribs extending longitudinally between the first and second ends thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A cleaning device according to    claim 1   , wherein body further has a lower surface between the first and second ends and delimited by the width and length of the body, the lower surface being continuous and flat along the entire length of the body.  
     
     
         6 . A cleaning device according to    claim 1   , wherein the fabric member further comprises a second pocket oppositely disposed from the first pocket and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second pockets, the opening being between the first and second pockets, the first pocket being larger than the second pocket, the second end of the body being received in the second pocket.  
     
     
         7 . A cleaning device according to    claim 6   , wherein the fabric member has a length substantially equal to the body, the fabric member further comprising an elastic portion that enables the fabric member to be stretched to insert the first and second ends of the body in the first and second pockets, respectively, of the fabric member.  
     
     
         8 . A cleaning device according to    claim 7   , wherein the second pocket of the fabric member comprises the elastic portion.  
     
     
         9 . A cleaning device according to    claim 1   , wherein the fabric member terminates at the opening, the opening surrounds a narrowed-width portion of the body adjacent the handle, and the fabric member further comprises an elastic portion at the opening that enables the fabric member to grip the narrowed-width portion of the body.  
     
     
         10 . A cleaning device comprising: 
 an elongate body having oppositely-disposed first and second ends, a length as measured between the first and second ends, an upper surface between the first and second ends, and a cross-section transverse to the length, the cross-section being defined by a width and a thickness of the body, the width being transverse to the length and less than the length, the thickness being transverse to the width and less than the width, the upper surface being delimited by the width and length of the body;    a handle adjacent but spaced apart from the second end of the body and projecting upward from the upper surface of the body so as to be entirely located on one side of the body; and    a fabric member having a length substantially equal to the length of the body, the fabric member comprising a first pocket, an oppositely-disposed second pocket having an elastic portion, an intermediate portion connecting the first and second pockets, and an opening between the first and second pockets, the first pocket being larger than the second pocket, the first end of the body being received in the first pocket and the second end of the body being received in the second pocket, the handle of the body projecting out of the opening in the fabric member;    wherein the cleaning device has a thickness of not greater than 20 millimeters at the first end of the body when received in the first pocket of the fabric member, and the elastic portion enables the fabric member to be stretched to insert the second end of the body in the second pocket of the fabric member when the first end of the body is already received in the first pocket of the fabric member.    
     
     
         11 . A cleaning device according to    claim 10   , wherein the length of the body is about one meter and the width of the body is about 30 to about 40 millimeters.  
     
     
         12 . A cleaning device according to    claim 10   , wherein the body further comprises ribs extending longitudinally between the first and second ends thereof.  
     
     
         13 . A cleaning device according to    claim 10   , wherein the fabric member covers all of the body except for a portion of the upper surface above which the handle projects.