Cleaning devices convertible between floor and wall treatment configurations

Abstract

Cleaning devices are disclosed which can rapidly be reconfigured from an elongated mop, to an intermediate size upper wall cleaner, to a shorter window cleaner. A common aerosol canister support and actuator and a common cleaning head are used. The device can be triggered by either a trigger on the support, or by a remote trigger on a separate handle. An extension wand can connect the remote handle to the canister support. Linkages between the handle, wand and support are via a quick disconnect coupler allowing rapid disassembly and assembly while permitting triggering components to act through the joint created by the coupler.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cleaning apparatus, comprising: 
 a handle linked to a first trigger;    a canister holder having a section for mounting an aerosol can, a grip section, and a second trigger;    an extension pole removably linkable to the canister holder adjacent one end of the extension pole and to the handle adjacent an opposite end of the extension pole;    a cleaning head linked to the canister holder;    wherein the apparatus is suitable to be assembled in a first alternative configuration where the extension wand is so linked to the handle and canister holder and movement of the first trigger can move an actuator, and wherein the apparatus can readily be reconfigured into an alternative configuration where neither the extension wand, nor handle are linked to the canister holder, but movement of the second trigger can still move the actuator.    
     
     
         2 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is also such that the apparatus can be readily reconfigured from the alternative configuration into a third configuration where the handle is linked to the canister holder and the extension wand is not linked to the canister holder or handle, where movement of the first trigger can move the actuator.  
     
     
         3 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the canister holder is adjustable to hold different sized canisters.  
     
     
         4 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning head is adjustably connected to the canister holder.  
     
     
         5 . A cleaning apparatus, comprising: 
 a handle linked to a trigger;    a canister holder having an actuator capable of actuating an aerosol can if an aerosol can is mounted to the canister holder;    an extension pole removably linkable to the canister holder adjacent one end of the extension pole and to the handle adjacent an opposite end of the extension pole;    a cleaning head linked to the canister holder;    wherein the apparatus is suitable to be assembled in a first alternative configuration where the extension wand is so linked to the handle and canister holder and movement of the trigger can move the actuator; and    then the apparatus can readily be reassembled in an alternative configuration where the extension wand is not linked to either the handle or canister holder, but the handle is linked to the canister holder and movement of the trigger can still move the actuator.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the handle is formed with a first type of quick disconnect coupling element, and both an upper portion of the extension wand and an upper portion of the canister holder are formed with a second type of quick disconnect coupling element.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first type of quick disconnect coupling element is a male member, and the second type of quick disconnect coupling element is a female member with a radial releasable latch.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein both the first type and second type of quick disconnect coupling elements have an axial bore which forms part of a passageway for receiving a sliding member coupled to the trigger and actuator.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the extension wand has an axial socket, and at least one of the canister holder or handle has a stem sized to fit into the socket.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the extension wand can be releasably retained in the socket by a spring biased latch.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the latch has a ramped surface engagable with a catch surface on the stem.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the latch has a section which is a push button suitable for moving the latch in opposition to the spring.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the latch can surround a periphery of the stem when the stem is positioned in the socket.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising an aerosol can positioned on the canister housing in a fashion where the actuator can be moved by the trigger to cause a dispensing of a chemical in the aerosol can.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the canister holder is adjustable to hold different sized canisters.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the cleaning head is adjustably connected to the canister holder.  
     
     
         17 . A latching apparatus for releasably linking two pole segments together, the apparatus comprising: 
 a first pole having a male stem with a radial catch surface;    a second pole having a female socket suitable to receive the male stem in telescoping fashion, the second pole also having a radial opening adjacent the socket for receiving a transversely movable latch, the latch being spring biased in an outward direction;    the latch being in the form of a slab having a central through bore suitable to receive the stem, the latch being suitable to catch on the radial catch surface when the latch is in one position, and suitable to permit the stem to pass along the central through bore when the latch is in a second position.