Cleaning device

Abstract

A cleaning device for cleaning surfaces comprising a first end adapted to be held by a user, and a second end adapted to have an instantly flushable cleaning member attached thereto, and cleaning member ejection means operable to detach the cleaning member from the second end of the device.

1 . A cleaning device including a handle adapted to be held by a user, a flushable cleaning member selectively attached thereto via attachment means on the handle, said handle incorporating a cleaning member ejection means operable by the user to detach the cleaning member from the handle to allow disposal of the cleaning member after use and wherein the cleaning member has a cleaning surface and an opposing attachment surface and said attachment means attaches to the attachment surface of the cleaning member.  
   
   
       2 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaning member is disposable by removing the same from the handle and flushing down a toilet.  
   
   
       3 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaning member is elongate in form.  
   
   
       4 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaning member handle includes an elongate member located along the handle, said elongate member connected to the attachment means via first and second spaced arms provided as part of a resilient member, said resilient member selectively movable with respect to the attachment means to apply an ejection force to the cleaning member to remove the same from the attachment means and, to apply the ejection force, the arms act in conjunction with a further portion of the resilient member to apply the ejection force in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the attachment means lie.  
   
   
       5 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein a longitudinal axis of the cleaning member is greater in length than the longest axis perpendicular thereto.  
   
   
       6 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaning member is substantially flat.  
   
   
       7 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein at least the cleaning surface of the cleaning member is curved.  
   
   
       8 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaning member includes at least one line of weakening to facilitate the folding of the cleaning member about said at least one line during disposal of the member.  
   
   
       9 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaning member has fracture lines provided to allow the cleaning member to be separated into a number of parts when ejected from the attachment means or under the influence of water flow and/or degradation.  
   
   
       10 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaning member includes cleaning materials impregnated or positioned therein.  
   
   
       11 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaning member has a multi-layer construction including any or any combination of an attachment layer, soil barrier layer and cleaning layer.  
   
   
       12 . A cleaning device according to  claim 11  wherein the attachment layer includes a woven loop scrim or an open structured non-woven fibre fiber web.  
   
   
       13 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaning member includes a plurality of smaller cleaning member parts which are held in position by the attachment means of the handle.  
   
   
       14 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaning member can be ejected from the attachment means and instantly flushable for disposal down a toilet bowl.  
   
   
       15 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the device includes a storage device for supporting the handle of the cleaning device when not in use and for storing a plurality of cleaning members in a stack for selective attachment in sequence to the handle.  
   
   
       16 . A cleaning device according to  claim 15  wherein the storage means includes a guide to allow the guided introduction of the handle into contact with the top cleaning member in the stack so as to allow the attachment of the handle with the cleaning member to form the cleaning device for use when removed from the storage means.  
   
   
       17 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the attachment means lies substantially in line with the attachment surface of the cleaning member.  
   
   
       18 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning member is substantially planar.  
   
   
       19 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning member is resiliently deformable.  
   
   
       20 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the attachment means are conformable to the shape of the surface to be cleaned.  
   
   
       21 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means is adapted to engage with matching attachment means on the attachment surface of the cleaning member.  
   
   
       22 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the attachment means is adapted to automatically engage with the cleaning member on contact therewith.  
   
   
       23 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the attachment means on the handle and the attachment surface of the cleaning member include hook and loop fastening means.  
   
   
       24 . A cleaning device according to  claim 22  wherein upon contact, hooking means are moved into the cleaning member to engage the same.  
   
   
       25 . A cleaning device according to  claim 23  wherein the attachment means automatically engage with the attachment surface of the cleaning member on contact therewith without the need for relative movement between the attachment means and the surface of the cleaning member.  
   
   
       26 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the attachment means engages the cleaning member without significant deformation of the cleaning member.  
   
   
       27 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the handle of the device has first and second arms each with first and second ends, said first ends provided to be gripped by the user.  
   
   
       28 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the arms are adapted to be pivoted between a first configuration in which the first ends of the arms are substantially apart and in which the second ends of the arms are substantially together, and a second configuration in which the first ends of the arms are substantially together and in which the second ends of the arms are substantially apart.  
   
   
       29 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the attachment means are connected to the handle to allow articulation with movement of the attachment means with respect to the handle about at least one axis of rotation.  
   
   
       30 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 29  wherein the attachment means is movable with respect to the handle freely within a defined area of movement and further movement is possible against a resilient force.  
   
   
       31 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the attachment means is provided with a plate or plates with engagement formations on the cleaning member located thereon.  
   
   
       32 . A cleaning device according to  claim 31  wherein the plate or plates are movable about at least one axis or rotation with respect to the remainder of the attachment means to allow conformability with changes in the attachment surface of the cleaning member in use.  
   
   
       33 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the attachment means includes an ejection means movable between a retracted position in which an end of the same is flush with or retracted from the attachment means, and an extended position in which the free end of the ejection means extends beyond the attachment means to push the cleaning member from engagement with the attachment means.  
   
   
       34 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein a part of the handle is selectively movable by the user to cause movement of the ejection means.  
   
   
       35 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the ejection means is connectable with but spaced from the movement means on the handle.  
   
   
       36 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the ejection means is a resilient member.  
   
   
       37 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the resilient member is adapted to move between a first position in which the member is not in contact with the cleaning member, and a second position in which the member contacts the cleaning member.  
   
   
       38 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the attachment means contacts with a range of 40-80% of the area of the attachment surface of the cleaning member and provides support therefore.  
   
   
       39 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the handle includes sliding means adapted to slide along the handle between a first position in which the sliding means is not in contact with the cleaning member, and a second position in which the sliding means contacts the cleaning member to eject the cleaning member.  
   
   
       40 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein the handle includes or has attached thereto a reservoir of cleaning material, said cleaning material provided in a controlled manner to flow onto the cleaning member when attached to the handle to allow the application of the cleaning material onto the surface being cleaned.  
   
   
       41 . A cleaning device according to  claim 1  wherein said cleaning member being disposable by flushing down a toilet.  
   
   
       42 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein the cleaning member has a cleaning surface and opposing attachment surface and is elongate in form.  
   
   
       43 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the cleaning member is a cleaning member which unless flexed by a force applied thereto, retains a substantially flat configuration.  
   
   
       44 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the cleaning member is fibrous.  
   
   
       45 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 41  wherein a longitudinal axis of the cleaning member is greater in length than the longest axis perpendicular thereto.  
   
   
       46 . A cleaning device according to  claim 41  wherein the cleaning member is substantially flat.  
   
   
       47 . A cleaning device according to  claim 41  wherein at least the cleaning surface of the cleaning member is curved.  
   
   
       48 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the cleaning member includes at least one line of weakening to facilitate the folding of the cleaning member about said line during flushing.  
   
   
       49 . A cleaning device according to  claim 41  wherein fracture lines are provided so as to allow the cleaning member to be separated into a number of parts when ejected from the attachment means or under the influence of water flow and/or degradation.  
   
   
       50 . A cleaning device according to  claim 41  wherein the width of the cleaning member is less than 60 nm, the length of the cleaning member is less than 120 mm.  
   
   
       51 . A cleaning device according to  claim 41  wherein the length of the cleaning member is a minimum of 130% of the cleaning member width and of a width of no more than 15 mm.  
   
   
       52 . A cleaning device according to  claim 41  wherein the cleaning member is of a single layer construction.  
   
   
       53 . A cleaning device according to  claim 41  wherein the cleaning member includes cleaning materials impregnated or positioned therein.  
   
   
       54 . A cleaning device according to  claim 53  wherein the cleaning materials added are semi-dry, or more definitively remain in a liquid state however concentrated when all water has been driven away by heat.  
   
   
       55 . A cleaning device according to  claim 41  wherein the cleaning member has a multi-layer construction including any combination of attachment layer, soil barrier layer and cleaning layer.  
   
   
       56 . A cleaning device according to  claim 55  wherein the attachment layer includes a woven loop scrim or an open structured non-woven fiber web.  
   
   
       57 . A cleaning device according to  claim 41  wherein the cleaning member includes a plurality of smaller cleaning members which are preferably held in position by the attachment means of the handle.  
   
   
       58 . A cleaning device according to  claim 41  wherein upon ejection from the handle the cleaning member can be instantly flushed for disposal down a toilet bowl.  
   
   
       59 . A cleaning device according to  claim 58  wherein the cleaning member is instantly flushable without any prior treatment of the cleaning member  
   
   
       60 . A method of cleaning by wiping a cleaning member held on a handle along a surface, the method comprising: 
 using a cleaning device having a handle adapted to be held by a user, a flushable cleaning member selectively attached thereto via attachment means on the handle said handle incorporating a cleaning member ejection means operable by the user to detach the cleaning member from the handle to allow disposal of the cleaning member after use and wherein the cleaning member has a cleaning surface and an opposing attachment surface and said attachment means attaches to the attachment surface of the cleaning member.    
   
   
       61 . Storage means for supporting at least one handle for a cleaning device when not in use and for storing a plurality of cleaning members for selective attachment in sequence and wherein the storage means includes a guide to allow the guided introduction of the handle into contact with the cleaning member so as to allow the attachment of the handle and a cleaning member to form the cleaning device for use.  
   
   
       62 . A cleaning device having a handle with a first part adapted to be held by a user, and a second part adapted for attachment of a cleaning member said device including cleaning member ejection means adapted for selective operation by the user of the device via the handle to act against the engagement of the attachment means and the handle and force the cleaning member from the attachment means to allow the cleaning member to be removed for disposal.  
   
   
       63 . A cleaning device as claimed in  claim 62  wherein a fluid is contained within the handle to actuate the ejection means.