Flexible cleaning tool

Abstract

A cleaning tool comprises a soft, flexible body. A resilient backbone is located inside of the flexible body. The backbone may be insert molded in the body. The backbone may be formed of a plurality of branches where the branches extend from a center core to the edge of the body. The backbone may be formed with an arched shape in its undeformed state such that the body has an arched shape in its undeformed state and a cleaning surface of the body has a concave shape such that pressure may be applied to the body opposite the cleaning surface to flatten out the body. The body may have a first straight edge and an opposite convex edge where the concave edge may terminate at a corner having an acute included angle. The backbone may be pivotably connected to a handle.

1 . A cleaning tool comprising:
 a flexible body;   a resilient backbone insert molded inside of said flexible body.   
   
   
       2 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein the body is made of a low durometer material. 
   
   
       3 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein the body is made of EVA foam. 
   
   
       4 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein the body is made of rubber. 
   
   
       5 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein the backbone is located entirely inside of the body. 
   
   
       6 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein the backbone comprises a resilient material that is able to flex under the application of a force and return to its original shape once the force is removed. 
   
   
       7 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein the backbone is made of nylon. 
   
   
       8 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein the backbone is made of spring steel. 
   
   
       9 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein the backbone is made of plastic. 
   
   
       10 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein the backbone is provided with nubs that position the backbone relative to the body. 
   
   
       11 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the backbone is exposed. 
   
   
       12 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein the backbone is formed of a plurality of branches. 
   
   
       13 . The cleaning tool of  claim 12  wherein the body includes an edge and at least one of the plurality of branches extend from a center core to the edge of the body. 
   
   
       14 . The cleaning tool of  claim 12  wherein at least one branch of said plurality of branches extends to a corner of the body. 
   
   
       15 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein the backbone is formed with an arched shape in its undeformed state such that the body has an arched shape in its undeformed state. 
   
   
       16 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein a cleaning surface of the body has a concave shape. 
   
   
       17 . The cleaning tool of  claim 16  wherein pressure may be applied to the body opposite the cleaning surface to flatten the body. 
   
   
       18 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein said body has a first straight edge and an opposite convex edge. 
   
   
       19 . The cleaning tool of  claim 18  wherein the concave edge terminates at a corner having an acute included angle. 
   
   
       20 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein the backbone is connected to a knuckle. 
   
   
       21 . The cleaning tool of  claim 20  wherein said knuckle protrudes from the body. 
   
   
       22 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein the body includes corners and the backbone is shaped to provide even pressure at the corners of the body when the body is flattened. 
   
   
       23 . The cleaning tool of  claim 20  wherein a handle is connected to said knuckle such that the handle can pivot about two axes. 
   
   
       24 . The cleaning tool of  claim 23  wherein the two axes are perpendicular to one another. 
   
   
       25 . The cleaning tool of  claim 23  wherein said handle includes an internal receptacle that is sized and shaped to receive a mating handle extension. 
   
   
       26 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1  wherein the backbone is formed with an upside down V shape in its undeformed state. 
   
   
       27 . A cleaning tool comprising:
 a soft, flexible body;   a resilient backbone having an undeformed state and located at least partially inside of said flexible body, said backbone being able to flex to a deformed state under the application of a force and return to the undeformed state upon removal of the force, said backbone being formed with an arched shape in its undeformed state such that the body has an arched shape where a cleaning surface of the body has a concave shape such that pressure may be applied to the body opposite the cleaning surface to flatten the body.