Roller for a cleaning device

Abstract

A roller and a cleaning device are provided. The roller may be coupled to a cleaning device for wringing liquid from a hydrophilic member of the cleaning device. The roller may include an opening defined through an outer wall of the roller and liquid wrung from the hydrophilic member may pass through the roller via the opening. The cleaning device may include a handle, a hydrophilic member coupled to the handle, and a wringer coupled to the handle for wringing liquid from the hydrophilic member. The wringer may include a hand grip and a roller coupled to the hand grip. Upon activation, the roller may move relative to the hydrophilic member and may be adapted to force liquid from the hydrophilic member upon compression of the hydrophilic member. The roller may define an opening therethrough and liquid forced from the hydrophilic member may pass through the roller via the opening.

1 . A roller for a cleaning device for wringing liquid from a hydrophilic member of the cleaning device, the roller comprising:
 an outer wall defining a cavity and having a first surface and an opposing second surface; and   at least one opening defined through the outer wall from the first surface to the second surface, wherein a liquid wrung from the hydrophilic member passes through the at least one opening, through the cavity, and exits the roller.   
     
     
         2 . The roller of  claim 1 , further comprising a longitudinal axis, wherein at least a portion of the roller has an eccentric shape taken along a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The roller of  claim 2 , wherein the eccentric shape is a tear-drop shape. 
     
     
         4 . The roller of  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the roller has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         5 . The roller of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface is an outer surface of the roller, the second surface is an inner surface of the roller. 
     
     
         6 . The roller of  claim 1 , further comprising a rib extending from at least one of the first and second surfaces and into the cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The roller of  claim 6 , wherein the rib at least partially defines the opening. 
     
     
         8 . The roller of  claim 6 , wherein the rib is a first rib, the roller further comprising a second rib extending from at least one of the first and second surfaces and into the cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The roller of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is one of a plurality of openings, and wherein a liquid wrung from the hydrophilic member passes through the plurality of openings, through the cavity, and exits the roller. 
     
     
         10 . A cleaning device comprising:
 a handle;   a hydrophilic member coupled to the handle; and   a wringer coupled to the handle and moveable axially along the handle for wringing liquid from the hydrophilic member, the wringer including;
 a hand grip; and 
 a roller coupled to the hand grip, the roller having an outer wall defining a cavity and at least one opening defined through the outer wall and in fluid communication with the cavity; wherein 
 movement of the hand grip towards the hydrophilic member moves the roller relative to the hydrophilic member to compress the hydrophilic member, such that a liquid is wrung from the hydrophilic member and passes through the at least one opening, through the cavity, and exits the roller. 
   
     
     
         11 . The cleaning device of  claim 10 , wherein the roller includes a longitudinal axis, a first member and a second member spaced from the first member, wherein the first member has an eccentric shape taken along a first plane transverse to the longitudinal axis and the second member has a semi-circular shape taken along a second plane transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning device of  claim 11 , wherein the eccentric shape is a tear-drop shape. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning device of  claim 10 , wherein the roller includes a longitudinal axis, a first member and a second member spaced from the first member, wherein the first member has a first eccentric shape taken along a first plane transverse to the longitudinal axis and the second member has a second eccentric shape taken along a second plane transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning device of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second eccentric shapes are substantially identical. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning device of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second eccentric shapes are tear-drop shapes. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning device of  claim 10 , wherein the roller includes a longitudinal axis, a first member, a second member, and a third member, wherein the second member is oriented between the first and third members, and wherein the first member has a first eccentric shape taken along a first plane transverse to the longitudinal axis, the second member has a semi-circular shape taken along a second plane transverse to the longitudinal axis, and the third member has a second eccentric shape taken along a third plane transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning device of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second eccentric shapes are substantially identical. 
     
     
         18 . The cleaning device of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second eccentric shapes are tear-drop shapes. 
     
     
         19 . The cleaning device of  claim 10 , wherein the opening is one of a plurality of openings defined through the outer wall of the roller and liquid forced from the hydrophilic member passes through the roller via the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaning device of  claim 10 , wherein the roller is a first roller and the cleaning device further comprises a second roller coupled to the hand grip, the second roller having a second outer wall defining a second cavity and at least one opening defined through the second outer wall and in fluid communication with the cavity, wherein movement of the hand grip towards the hydrophilic member moves the second roller relative to the hydrophilic member to compress the hydrophilic member between the first roller and the second roller, such that a liquid is wrung from the hydrophilic member and passes through the at least one opening in the second roller, through the second cavity, and exits the roller.