Combined cleaning sponge and sponge holder

Abstract

A disposable cleaning head and adapter therefor are positioned in a receptacle of predetermined cross-section at the forward end of a handle, the adapter converting the receptacle for use with cleaning heads having a different mounting cross-section. The cleaning head includes a base member of predetermined cross-section and configured for removable fitment in the converted receptacle, a cleaning member, and a holder for connecting the cleaning member to the base. Various cleaning heads are disclosed, one wherein a plurality of sponge-like cleaning strips radiate outwardly from the holder and form a ball, much like a sunburst, with the holder being fixed or mounted in a ball-joint socket relation to permit the “sunburst” to rotate relative to the base, another wherein a sponge like element is mounted to or removably interengaged with the holder, such as via piercing or complementary retention structure operating between the sponge element and the holder.

1 . In an apparatus for cleaning vehicle surfaces, the apparatus including a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end providing an outwardly open sleeve of predetermined cross-section for receiving a first cleaning head of having a cross-section complementary to said sleeve, and a hand operated actuator operably coupled to the handle for ejecting the cleaning head from the receiving sleeve, the improvement comprising: 
 a second cleaning head, said second cleaning head including a base member having forward and rearward end portions and a stop member extending radially outwardly, a cleaning member, and means for mounting said cleaning member to said base member, said base member having a cross-section that is greater than the predetermined cross-section of said first cleaning head, and    a hollow tubular adapter ring to convert the receiving sleeve into a stepped receptacle configured to receive the base member of said second cleaning head, said adapter ring having a rearward end portion fixedly mountable to the distal end of said receiving sleeve and a forward end portion extending forwardly of the distal end, the forward end portion of said ring having an interior wall configured to receive and frictionally engage said stop member, and said mounting forming an interior shoulder to engage said stop member and limit inward insertion of the second cleaning head into the receptacle.    
   
   
       2 . The improvement of  claim 1 , further wherein: 
 said means for mounting comprises an elongated holder, and    said cleaning member comprises a plurality of sponge-like cleaning elements, and means for attaching said cleaning elements to said holder.    
   
   
       3 . The improvement of  claim 2 , wherein 
 each said sponge-like cleaning element is axially elongated and has a medial portion and opposite ends,    said elongated holder includes forward and rearward end portions, said rearward end portion being connected to said base member and said forward end portion being spaced from said base member, and    said means for attaching comprises the forward end portion of said holder being provided with an opening of predetermined shape, the cleaning elements being bundled together with their respective midpoints compressed tightly together within the opening and ends radiating outwardly therefrom.    
   
   
       4 . The improvement of  claim 3 , wherein the rearward end portion of elongated holder is substantially immovably secured to said base member.  
   
   
       5 . The improvement of  claim 3 , wherein the rearward end portion of said elongated holder is connected via a ball and socket arrangement wherein the holder may both rotate and swivel relative to the connection.  
   
   
       6 . The improvement of  claim 2 , wherein the adapter ring and the receiving sleeve each include a generally coaxially disposed cylindrical inner walls, and the stop member is generally annular and has an outer surface dimensioned to engage the inner wall of the adapter ring in a releasable snap-fit closure.  
   
   
       7 . The improvement of  claim 6 , wherein the releasable snap-fit closure is such that the cleaning head may rotate relative to a central axis of the stepped receptacle.  
   
   
       8 . The improvement of  claim 6 , further comprising means for preventing rotation of the cleaning head relative to the stepped receptacle.  
   
   
       9 . The improvement of  claim 8 , wherein the means for preventing rotation comprises a rib from one said cleaning head and receptacle interengaging with a detent in the other of said cleaning head and receptacle.  
   
   
       10 . The improvement of  claim 2 , wherein each sponge-like cleaning element comprises a shaped strip of soft water absorbent polyurethane foam cut to a predetermined size and shape, the strips being flexible, having a square, or other suitable geometrical cross-section, and arranged to radiate outwardly from their connection to the holder and form into a ball-like or “sunburst” shape.  
   
   
       11 . The improvement of  claim 10 , wherein the shaped strips are generally of the same length, and connected to the holder at their respective midpoints.  
   
   
       12 . The improvement of  claim 11 , wherein the strips are comprised of expanded polymeric foam, glass mop, nylon, sponge, soft rubber, or other appropriate cleaning or brush material capable of cleaning without harming or damaging the surface being cleaned.  
   
   
       13 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said means for mounting comprises an elongated holder, and    said cleaning member comprises at least one sponge-like cleaning element, and means for attaching said cleaning element to said holder.    
   
   
       14 . The improvement of  claim 13 , wherein said holder comprises an elongated spike, and said means for attaching comprises said spike being adapted to be removably impaled into the body of the sponge-like cleaning element, wherein the spike is frictionally engaged by said sponge material and said cleaning element is removably retained on said spike.  
   
   
       15 . The improvement of  claim 13 , wherein 
 said holder includes a pair of retention fingers each formed at a forward free end thereof with an enlarged bead, and    said means for attaching comprises the body of said sponge-like cleaning element including a pair of complementary recesses adapted to receive the retention fingers, the enlarged beads cooperating to form a releasable frictional engagement with the material of the sponge material when the fingers are inserted therein.    
   
   
       16 . The improvement of  claim 13 , wherein 
 said holder comprises a tubular sleeve element, said tubular element extending generally coaxially forwardly from the forward end of said base member, and    said means for attaching comprises the body of said sponge-like cleaning element including an annular ring-shaped recess extending inwardly of the sponge material, the sleeve element being insertable into the ring-shaped recess and gripped by the material of the sponge.    
   
   
       17 . The improvement of  claim 16 , wherein an annular rib is formed on said tubular sleeve proximate to the distal end thereof, the rib engaging the material of the sponge when the sleeve element is inserted into the ring shaped recess wherein to inhibit unwanted withdrawal of the cleaning element  
   
   
       18 . The improvement of  claim 2 , wherein 
 said means for mounting comprises a mounting plate, said plate being disposed in a plane generally transverse to the geometrical axis through said base member and at the forward end thereof,    said cleaning member comprises a generally rectangular shaped sponge-like cleaning element, and further comprising    means for attaching said cleaning element to said mounting plate.    
   
   
       19 . An apparatus for cleaning plated and painted surfaces of a vehicle without damaging the surfaces being cleaned, comprises: 
 a disposable cleaning head, the cleaning head including a cylindrical base member having a cylindrical flange proximate one end thereof, a mounting plate extending from the one end of said base member, and a plurality of separate foam cleaning strips, the strips being bundled together at their midpoints and the midpoints connected to said plate in a manner that the opposite ends of the strips radiate outwardly and form into a ball shaped element,    an elongated handle having proximate and distal ends and a cleaning head holder at the distal end to releasably frictionally engage and secure the base member in working relation with the handle, said cleaning head holder forming a cup-shaped receptacle having a stepped interior wall wherein a cylindrical forward portion is greater in diameter than that of a cylindrical rearward portion and a stop is formed between the receptacle portions for engaging the flange and limiting inward insertion of the cleaning head into the receptacle, the inner wall of said forward portion being dimensioned to frictionally engage said flange in a snap-fit closure, and    an ejection mechanism for ejecting the cleaning head from the cleaning head holder, the ejection mechanism comprising a movable ejection member within the stepped receptacle of said cleaning head holder, an actuator element movably arranged on the handle, and a motion transfer element operating between the actuator element and the ejection member, wherein the motion transfer element extends through the interior of the handle, is hand operated by the user, and user initiated movement causes the ejection member to move and eject the cleaning head from the cleaning head holder.    
   
   
       20 . A method of converting cleaning apparatus designed to be used with a first cleaning head provided, at least in part, with mounting portion having a first cross-section, and for use with a second cleaning head provided, at least in part, with a mounting portion having a second cross-section that is larger and possibly different than said first cross-section, the cleaning apparatus of the type which includes a handle, a hollow cylindrical sleeve at one handle end, said sleeve open thereat for receiving the first cleaning head, terminating in a forward facing endwall, and having interior and exterior walls, and a hand operated ejector at the other handle end for ejecting the cleaning head from the sleeve, comprising 
 providing a hollow cylindrical adapter ring having an interior wall; the interior wall of said adapter having a forward portion that conforms and is slightly larger than the second cross-section and a rearward portion that conforms to and is slightly larger than the cross-section formed by the exterior wall of the sleeve, and    fixedly attaching a rearward end portion of the adapter ring to the exterior wall of the sleeve wherein the forward portion of the ring extends forwardly from the sleeve, the ring and sleeve cooperating to form a receptacle wherein the forward facing endwall of the sleeve forms a shoulder, the forward end portion of said receptacle receives said second cleaning head, at least in part, and endwall of said sleeve forms a limit on inward insertion of said second cleaning head.