Cleaning Device Handle

Abstract

Provided is a cleaning device handle that includes two chambers or hollow elements, in which fluid is transferred from one to the other before being sprayed out. In one specific device, one of the two chambers or hollow elements is slidable into the other, and each includes a one-way valve. In another, all or substantially all of the apparatus is enclosed within a tubular outer housing to result in a look and feel that is nearly identical to a conventional non-spraying mop/cleaner handle.

1 . A cleaning device handle, comprising:
 a hollow upper member having a top end, a bottom end, and a first one-way valve;   a hollow lower member having a top end, a bottom end, and a second one-way valve; and   an outlet disposed beneath said second one-way valve;   wherein said hollow lower member has an inner dimension that is just large enough to accommodate said bottom end of said hollow upper member; and   wherein said bottom end of said hollow upper member is slidably disposed within said hollow lower member.   
   
   
       2 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 1 , wherein said first one-way valve is spring-biased closed, blocking a first upward flow, and permitting a downward flow only when sufficient downward pressure exists to overcome said spring bias;
 wherein even when said hollow upper member is filled with a fluid, said weight of said fluid alone is not sufficient to overcome said spring bias of said first one-way valve; and   wherein pulling said hollow upper member upwardly with respect to said hollow lower member creates a vacuum within said hollow lower member that is sufficient to overcome said spring bias of said first one-way valve, causing said fluid from said hollow upper member to flow downwardly into said hollow lower member.   
   
   
       3 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 2 , wherein said second one-way valve is spring-biased closed, blocking a second upward flow, and permitting a downward flow only when sufficient downward pressure exists to overcome said spring bias. 
   
   
       4 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 3 , wherein even when said hollow lower member is filled with said fluid, said weight of said fluid alone is not sufficient to overcome said spring bias of said second one-way valve; and
 wherein when said hollow lower member is filled with said fluid and said hollow upper member is pressed downwardly with sufficient force relative to said hollow lower member, said first one-way valve blocks said fluid in said hollow lower member from entering said hollow upper member, and said resulting pressure opens said second one-way valve, allowing said fluid to escape through said outlet.   
   
   
       5 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a cleaning element attached beneath said outlet.   
   
   
       6 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 5 , wherein said fluid that is pumped out of said outlet does not pass through said cleaning element, but rather is directed in front of or behind said cleaning element. 
   
   
       7 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a hollow outer member that encloses at least a portion of said hollow upper member and said hollow lower member;   wherein said hollow lower member is fixedly attached to said hollow outer member;   wherein said hollow upper member extends above said top of said hollow outer member; and   wherein said hollow upper member is freely slidable relative to said hollow outer member and said hollow upper member.   
   
   
       8 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hollow outer member that encloses at least a portion of said hollow upper member and said hollow lower member;   wherein said hollow lower member is fixedly attached to said hollow outer member;   wherein said hollow upper member extends above said top of said hollow outer member; and   wherein said hollow upper member is slidable relative to said hollow outer member and said hollow upper member.   
   
   
       9 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 8 , wherein said top end of said hollow upper member is provided with a detachable cap, whereby said hollow upper member may be filled with a fluid when said detachable cap is detached, and wherein said detachable cap is not a plunger that is slidably disposed into said hollow upper member. 
   
   
       10 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 9 , wherein said first one-way valve controls an only midway passage between said upper member and said lower member. 
   
   
       11 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 10 , wherein said second one-way valve controls an only lower passage between said lower member and said outlet. 
   
   
       12 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 11 , wherein said first one-way valve is spring-biased closed, blocking a first upward flow, and permitting a downward flow only when sufficient downward pressure exists to overcome said spring bias;
 wherein even when said hollow upper member is filled with said fluid, said weight of said fluid alone is not sufficient to overcome said spring bias of said first one-way valve; and   wherein pulling said hollow upper member upwardly with respect to said hollow lower member creates a vacuum within said hollow lower member that is sufficient to overcome said spring bias of said first one-way valve, causing said fluid from said hollow upper member to flow downwardly into said hollow lower member.   
   
   
       13 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 12 , wherein said second one-way valve is spring-biased closed, blocking a second upward flow, and permitting a downward flow only when sufficient downward pressure exists to overcome said spring bias. 
   
   
       14 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 13 , wherein even when said hollow lower member is filled with said fluid, said weight of said fluid alone is not sufficient to overcome said spring bias of said second one-way valve; and
 wherein when said hollow lower member is filled with said fluid and said hollow upper member is pressed downwardly with sufficient force relative to said hollow lower member, said first one-way valve blocks said fluid in said hollow lower member from entering said hollow upper member, and said resulting pressure opens said second one-way valve, allowing said fluid to escape through said outlet.   
   
   
       15 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 14 , further comprising a cleaning element attached beneath said outlet. 
   
   
       16 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 15 , wherein said fluid that is pumped out of said outlet does not pass through said cleaning element, but rather is directed in front of or behind said cleaning element. 
   
   
       17 . A cleaning device handle, comprising:
 a hollow upper member having a top end, a bottom end and a first one-way valve;   a hollow lower member having a top end, a bottom end, and a second one-way valve;   an outlet disposed beneath said second one-way valve;   a hollow outer member that encloses at least a portion of said hollow upper member and said hollow lower member; and   a cleaning element attached beneath said outlet;   wherein said hollow lower member has an inner dimension that is just large enough to accommodate said bottom end of said hollow upper member;   wherein said bottom end of said hollow upper member is slidably disposed within said hollow lower member;   wherein said first one-way valve controls an only midway passage between said upper member and said lower member;   wherein said second one-way valve controls said only lower passage between said lower member and said outlet;   wherein said top end of said hollow upper member is provided with a detachable cap, whereby said hollow upper member may be filled with a fluid when said detachable cap is detached;   wherein said detachable cap is not a plunger that is slidably disposed into said hollow upper member;   wherein said hollow lower member is fixedly attached to said hollow outer member;   wherein said hollow upper member extends above said top of said hollow outer member;   wherein said hollow upper member is slidable relative to said hollow outer member and said hollow upper member;   wherein said first one-way valve is spring-biased closed, blocking a first upward flow, and permitting a downward flow only when sufficient downward pressure exists to overcome said spring bias;   wherein even when said hollow upper member is filled with said fluid, said weight of said fluid alone is not sufficient to overcome said spring bias of said first one-way valve;   wherein pulling said hollow upper member upwardly with respect to said hollow lower member creates a vacuum within said hollow lower member that is sufficient to overcome said spring bias of said first one-way valve, causing said fluid from said hollow upper member to flow downwardly into said hollow lower member;   wherein said second one-way valve is spring-biased closed, blocking a second upward flow, and permitting a downward flow only when sufficient downward pressure exists to overcome said spring bias;   wherein even when said hollow lower member is filled with said fluid, said weight of said fluid alone is not sufficient to overcome said spring bias of said second one-way valve;   wherein when said hollow lower member is filled with said fluid and said hollow upper member is pressed downwardly with sufficient force relative to said hollow lower member, said first one-way valve blocks said fluid in said hollow lower member from entering said hollow upper member, and said resulting pressure opens said second one-way valve, allowing said fluid to escape through said outlet; and   wherein said fluid that is pumped out of said outlet does not pass through said cleaning element, but rather is directed in front of or behind said cleaning element.   
   
   
       18 . A cleaning device handle, comprising:
 an upper compartment for storing a fluid;   a lower compartment; and   an outlet in communication with said lower compartment;   wherein said upper compartment and said lower compartment are divided by a one way valve;   wherein said fluid cannot pass from said lower compartment to said upper compartment;   wherein a portion of said fluid in said upper compartment is transferred to said lower compartment;   wherein said portion of said fluid is pumped from said lower compartment out of said cleaning device handle through said outlet; and   wherein said fluid is prevented from entering said lower compartment through said outlet.   
   
   
       19 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a hollow outer member that encloses at least a portion of both said upper compartment and said lower compartment;   wherein said hollow outer member is fixedly attached to said lower compartment;   wherein said upper compartment and said lower compartment are configured in a telescoping arrangement;   wherein said hollow outer member allows said upper compartment to telescopically slide freely within said lower compartment;   wherein said upper compartment acts as a plunger to create a vacuum in said lower compartment which causes said portion of said fluid to transfer to said lower compartment; and   wherein said upper compartment acts as a plunger to pump said portion of said fluid from said lower compartment out of said cleaning device handle through said outlet.   
   
   
       20 . A cleaning device handle according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a cleaning element beneath said outlet;   wherein said portion of said fluid that is pumped out of said outlet does not pass through said cleaning element, but rather is directed in front of or behind said cleaning element.