Cleaning implement

Abstract

A cleaning implement formed from a body and a handle attachment base provided on the body for removable attachment of a handle to the body. The body has a gripping portion on the body. The gripping portion is ergonomically shaped to be gripped by a user's hand. The cleaning implement is usable both with a handle adapted for attachment to the handle attachment base and without a handle by gripping of the gripping portion by a user. The cleaning implement may be adapted for use with different handles.

1 . A cleaning implement comprising: 
 a body including a region adapted to receive a cleaning material;    a handle attachment base on the body allowing removable attachment of a handle to the body, and defining a handle axis; and    a gripping portion on the body, wherein the gripping portion is ergonomically shaped to be gripped by a user's hand,    whereby the cleaning implement is usable both with a handle adapted for attachment to the handle attachment base and without a handle by gripping of the gripping portion by a user.    
   
   
       2 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning material is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of bristles forming a brush, a sponge, a scrubbing pad, a buffing pad, a polishing pad, and a cleaning cloth.  
   
   
       3 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the region adapted to receive a cleaning material is formed from a first region adapted to receive a cleaning material and a second region adapted to receive a cleaning material, wherein the first region adapted to receive a cleaning material is positioned between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees relative to the handle axis.  
   
   
       4 . The cleaning implement of  claim 3 , wherein the first region adapted to receive a cleaning material is positioned about 45 degrees relative to the handle axis.  
   
   
       5 . The cleaning implement of  claim 3 , wherein the second region adapted to receive a cleaning material is positioned generally parallel to the handle axis.  
   
   
       6 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion comprises a first landing for receiving a right hand of a user and a second landing for receiving a left hand of a user.  
   
   
       7 . The cleaning implement of  claim 6 , wherein the first landing and the second landing are separated by the handle attachment base.  
   
   
       8 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises at least one digit receiving area.  
   
   
       9 . The cleaning implement of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one digit receiving area comprises an aperture in the body.  
   
   
       10 . The cleaning implement of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one digit receiving area comprises a depression in a surface of the cleaning implement.  
   
   
       11 . The cleaning implement of  claim 8 , wherein the digit receiving area comprises at least one indentation in a front surface of the body.  
   
   
       12 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion is comprised of a resilient plastic.  
   
   
       13 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion has an hourglass shape when viewed from above for ergonomic considerations.  
   
   
       14 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one non-slip coating on the gripping portion.  
   
   
       15 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one bumper around at least a portion of the perimeter of the body.  
   
   
       16 . The cleaning implement of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one bumper is comprised of a resilient plastic.  
   
   
       17 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the body and the handle attachment base are formed from a rigid plastic.  
   
   
       18 . The cleaning implement of  claim 1 , wherein the handle attachment base further comprises a plurality of ribs on an inner surface of a cavity in the handle base attachment, wherein the ribs are sized to provide an interference fit with a handle.  
   
   
       19 . The cleaning implement of  claim 18 , wherein the handle attachment base further comprises a retention mechanism to retain a handle in the handle attachment base.  
   
   
       20 . A cleaning implement kit, comprising: 
 a cleaning implement, comprising; 
 a body including a region adapted to receive a cleaning material;  
 a handle attachment base on the body allowing removable attachment of a handle to the body, and defining a handle axis; and  
 a gripping portion on the body, wherein the gripping portion is ergonomically shaped to be gripped by a user's hand,  
 whereby the cleaning implement is usable both with a handle adapted for attachment to the handle attachment base and without a handle by gripping of the gripping portion by a user; and  
   a removable handle adapted for attachment to said handle attachment base.    
   
   
       21 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 20 , wherein the cleaning material is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of bristles forming a brush, a sponge, a scrubbing pad, a buffing pad, a polishing pad, a cleaning cloth, and a squeegee.  
   
   
       22 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 20 , wherein the region adapted to receive a cleaning material is formed from a first region adapted to receive a cleaning material and a second adapted to receive a cleaning material, wherein the firs region adapted to receive a cleaning material is positioned between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees relative to the handle axis.  
   
   
       23 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 22 , wherein the first region adapted to receive a cleaning material is positioned about 45 degrees relative to the handle axis.  
   
   
       24 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 22 , wherein the second region adapted to receive a cleaning material is positioned generally parallel to the handle axis.  
   
   
       25 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 20 , wherein the removable handle has an adjustable length.  
   
   
       26 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 20 , comprising at least two removable handles, each said removable handle having a different length.  
   
   
       27 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 20 , wherein the gripping portion comprises a first landing for receiving a right hand of a user and a second landing for receiving a left hand of a user.  
   
   
       28 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 27 , wherein the first landing and the second landing are separated by the handle attachment base.  
   
   
       29 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 20 , wherein the body further comprises at least one digit receiving area.  
   
   
       30 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one digit receiving area comprises an aperture in the body.  
   
   
       31 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one digit receiving area comprises a depression in a top surface of the cleaning implement.  
   
   
       32 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 20 , wherein the gripping portion is comprised of a resilient plastic.  
   
   
       33 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 20 , wherein the gripping portion has an hourglass shape when viewed from above for ergonomic considerations.  
   
   
       34 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 20 , further comprising at least one non-slip coating on the gripping portion.  
   
   
       35 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 20 , further comprising at least one bumper around at least a portion of the perimeter of the body.  
   
   
       36 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one bumper is comprised of a resilient plastic.  
   
   
       37 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 20 , wherein the body and the handle attachment base are formed from a rigid plastic.  
   
   
       38 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 20 , wherein the handle attachment base further comprises a plurality of ribs on an inner surface of a cavity in the handle base attachment, wherein the ribs are sized to provide an interference fit with the handle.  
   
   
       39 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 38 , wherein the handle attachment base further comprises a retention mechanism to retain the handle in the handle attachment base.  
   
   
       40 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 20 , further comprising a second implement comprising a handle attachment base matching the handle attachment base on the first implement, allowing removable attachment of the handle to the second implement.  
   
   
       41 . The cleaning implement kit of  claim 40 , wherein the second implement is selected from the group consisting of a brush, a mop, a squeegee, a polisher, a boat hook, a gaff hook, an oar, and a net.