Flexible Cleaning Tool With Replaceable Non-woven Pad and Cleaning Fluid Reservoir

Abstract

A flexible cleaning tool for use in wet, damp or dry cleaning is disclosed. The cleaning tool includes a handle connected to an elongated flexible support member. A cleaning pad encloses the support member. In one embodiment, the handle defines a fluid reservoir receiving cradle.

1 . A cleaning device comprising: 
 a handle;    a flexible cleaning pad support attached to the handle; and    a retaining means for maintaining the cleaning pad support in a    desired position.    
   
   
       2 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning pad support includes an insert plate.  
   
   
       3 . The cleaning device of  claim 2 , wherein the insert plate is metal.  
   
   
       4 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning pad support is comprised of a piece of metal insert-molded into a polymer.  
   
   
       5 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising an opening in the handle configured to allow access to a cradle.  
   
   
       6 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cleaning pad enclosing the flexible cleaning pad support, the at least one cleaning pad having a length substantially the same as the cleaning pad support.  
   
   
       7 . The cleaning device of  claim 5 , wherein the cleaning pad support is moveable between a first cleaning position and a second cleaning pad liquid application position.  
   
   
       8 . The cleaning device of  claim 6 , wherein the cleaning pad support can be moved by depressing a pushbutton on the handle and applying a force to the cleaning pad support.  
   
   
       9 . The cleaning device of  claim 8 , further comprising a cleaning fluid dispenser within the cradle.  
   
   
       10 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning pad support comprises a pair of attachment members.  
   
   
       11 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning pad support comprises a circular pivot member at one end, the circular pivot member configured to fit within a pivot member receiving cavity in the handle portion.  
   
   
       12 . The cleaning device of  claim 1   1 , wherein the circular pivot member comprises a plurality of notches and the handle portion comprises a semi-flexible assembly having a pushbutton and engagement tab projecting downward into the pivot member receiving cavity, the engagement tab configured to rest within a single notch; the assembly configured so that when the pushbutton is depressed, the engagement tab lifts out of the notch for selective pivoting of the cleaning pad support.  
   
   
       13 . A cleaning system including: 
 (a) a cleaning tool comprising: 
 a handle defining an interior recess for receiving a fluid reservoir; and  
 a cleaning media support including a portion bendable into a plurality of desired orientations;  
   (b) a cleaning media attached to the cleaning media support; and    (c) a fluid reservoir attached to the handle in the recess, the reservoir capable of applying fluid to a surface to be cleaned and to the surface of the cleaning media.    
   
   
       14 . The cleaning system of  claim 13 , wherein the cleaning media support comprises a pair of flexible attachment members.  
   
   
       15 . The cleaning system of  claim 14 , wherein the pair of attachment members include insert plates.  
   
   
       16 . The cleaning system of  claim 15 , wherein the insert plates are metal.  
   
   
       17 . The cleaning system of  claim 16 , wherein the cleaning media support is pivotally attached to the handle.  
   
   
       18 . The cleaning system of  claim 17 , wherein the cleaning media support is selectively pivotable.  
   
   
       19 . The cleaning system of  claim 18 , further comprising a pushbutton, wherein the cleaning media support may pivot to an open position by hand and further wherein a pushbutton must be depressed to pivot towards a closed position.  
   
   
       20 . A method of cleaning comprising: 
 bending a flexible support member of a cleaning tool to a desired cleaning arrangement;    applying a cleaning solution from a fluid reservoir in a handle attached to the flexible support member to a surface to be cleaned or to a cleaning pad attached to the support member; and    moving the cleaning pad across the surface to be cleaned.