Cleaning solution container

Abstract

A container is disclosed that is configured to selectively allow attachment to the handle of a cleaning implement, where the container includes a an exterior surface configured to selectively allow attachment to the handle of a cleaning implement, an interior surface, an interior cavity defined by the shape of the interior surface, where the exterior surface defines an opening that allows access to the interior cavity and the container also includes a removable cover for the opening. In addition, a cleaning implement is disclosed that includes a removable container with the features described above, an elongated handle with a top end, a bottom end and an intermediate section along a longitudinal axis and a cleaning element secured to the bottom end of the handle. Moreover, a method of making a container for a cleaning solution is disclosed that includes forming a container, adding an attachment means to allow selective attachment of the container to a cleaning implement and adding a cleaning solution or a cleaning chemical to the interior cavity of the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container configured to selectively allow attachment to a handle of a cleaning implement comprising:
 an exterior surface;   an interior surface;   an interior cavity defined by the shape of the interior surface;   wherein the exterior surface defines an opening that allows access to the interior cavity;   wherein the container further comprises a removable cover for the opening; and   wherein the container is configured to selectively allow attachment of the exterior surface to a handle of a cleaning implement.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the interior cavity of the container contains a cleaning solution or a cleaning chemical. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the container further comprises a first lip and a second lip, and a portion of the exterior surface between the first lip and second lip is shaped to define a recess relative to at least one other portion of the exterior surface, wherein the recess is sized to receive at least a portion of an intermediate section of the handle of a cleaning implement. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the container further comprises a first lip and a second lip, and a portion of the exterior surface between the first and second lip is shaped to define a hole relative to at least one other portion of the exterior surface, wherein the hole is sized to receive a top end of the handle of a cleaning implement. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment means that selectively allows removal and attachment of the container to the handle of a cleaning implement. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the attachment means is selected from the group consisting of:
 an attachment means comprising at least one deformable tab on the exterior surface of the container configured to interface with at least one corresponding recess in an intermediate section or a top end of the handle of a cleaning implement;   an attachment means comprising at least one recess in the exterior surface of the container configured to interface with at least one corresponding deformable tab on an intermediate section or a top end of the handle of a cleaning implement;   an attachment means comprising at least one protrusion or tab, wherein the at least one protrusion or tab is located on the exterior surface of the container and is configured to interface with at least one protrusion or tab located on an intermediate section or a top end of the handle of a cleaning implement to create a positive interlock;   an attachment means comprising at least one protrusion from the exterior surface of the container sized to enter a corresponding cavity in an intermediate section or a top end of the handle of a cleaning implement;   an attachment means comprising at least one cavity in the exterior surface of the container sized to receive at least one corresponding protrusion from an intermediate section or a top end of the handle of a cleaning implement;   an attachment means comprising a recess in the exterior surface of the container sized to receive at least a portion of an intermediate section of the handle of a cleaning implement;   an attachment means comprising a hole in the exterior surface of the container sized to receive a top end of an elongated handle of a cleaning implement;   an attachment means comprising threads located on a protrusion or in a recess of the container, wherein the threads are sized to correspond with threads on a top of the handle of a cleaning implement or threads in a cavity located on an intermediate section or a top end of the handle;   an attachment means comprising at least one snap fastener located on the container sized to correspond with at least one snap fastener on the handle of a cleaning implement;   an attachment means comprising at least one hook located on the container sized to correspond with at least one hook on the handle of a cleaning implement;   an attachment means comprising hook fasteners located on the container designed to correspond with loop fasteners on the handle of a cleaning implement; or   an attachment means comprising loop fasteners located on the container designed to correspond with hook fasteners on the handle of a cleaning implement   
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is configured to selectively attach to the handle of a cleaning implement, and wherein the cleaning element is selected from the group consisting of a wet mop, a roller mop, a flat mop, a spray mop, a steam mop or a sponge mop. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is made from a rigid material with elastic or deformable properties. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the container is made from plastic. 
     
     
         10 . A cleaning implement comprising:
 an elongated handle comprising a top end, a bottom end and an intermediate section along a longitudinal axis;   a cleaning element secured to the bottom end of the handle; and   a removable container configured to selectively attach to the handle of the cleaning implement, the removable container comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an interior cavity defined by the shape of the interior surface, wherein the exterior surface defines an opening that allows access to the interior cavity, and wherein the removable container further comprises a removable cover for the opening.   
     
     
         11 . The cleaning implement of  claim 10 , wherein the interior cavity of the removable container contains a cleaning solution or a cleaning chemical. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning implement of  claim 10 , wherein the exterior surface of the removable container further comprises a first lip and a second lip, and a portion of the exterior surface between the first lip and second lip is shaped to define a recess relative to at least one other portion of the exterior surface, wherein the recess is sized to receive at least a portion of the intermediate section of the handle. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning implement of  claim 10 , wherein the exterior surface of the removable container further comprises a first lip and a second lip, and a portion of the exterior surface between the first lip and the second lip is shaped to define a hole relative to at least one other portion of the exterior surface, wherein the hole is sized to receive the top end of the elongated handle. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning implement of  claim 10 , further comprising an attachment means that selectively allows removal and attachment of the removable container to the handle. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning implement of  claim 14 , wherein the attachment means is selected from the group consisting of:
 an attachment means comprising at least one deformable tab on the exterior surface of the removable container and at least one corresponding recess in the intermediate section or the top end of the handle of the cleaning implement configured to interface with the at least one deformable tab;   an attachment means comprising at least one deformable tab on the intermediate section or the top end of the handle of the cleaning implement and at least one corresponding recess in the exterior surface of the removable container configured to interface with the at least one deformable tab;   an attachment means comprising at least two opposing protrusions or tabs, wherein at least one protrusion or tab is located on the exterior surface of the removable container and at least one protrusion or tab is located on the intermediate section or the top end of the handle of the cleaning implement, and wherein the at least two opposing protrusions or tabs are configured to interface with each other and create a positive interlock;   an attachment means comprising at least one protrusion from the exterior surface of the removable container sized to enter a corresponding cavity in the intermediate section or the top end of the handle of the cleaning implement;   an attachment means comprising at least one protrusion from the intermediate section or the top end of the handle of the cleaning implement sized to enter a corresponding cavity in the exterior surface of the removable container;   an attachment means comprising a recess in the exterior surface of the removable container sized to receive at least a portion of the intermediate section of the handle;   an attachment means comprising a hole in the exterior surface of the removable container sized to receive the top end of the elongated handle;   an attachment means comprising corresponding threads located on the removable container and the top of the handle;   an attachment means comprising corresponding snap fasteners located on the removable container and the handle;   an attachment means comprising corresponding hooks located on the removable container and the handle; or   an attachment means comprising hook and loop fasteners located on the removable container and the handle.   
     
     
         16 . The cleaning implement of  claim 10 , wherein the cleaning element is selected from the group consisting of a wet mop, a roller mop, a flat mop, a spray mop, a steam mop or a sponge mop. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning implement of  claim 10 , wherein the removable container is made from plastic. 
     
     
         18 . A method of making a container for a cleaning solution comprising:
 forming a container comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface, an interior cavity defined by the shape of the interior surface, an opening in the exterior surface that allows access to the interior cavity and a removable cover for the opening;   adding an attachment means to allow selective attachment of the container to a handle of a cleaning implement; and   adding a cleaning solution or a cleaning chemical to the interior cavity of the container.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the attachment means are added by shaping the exterior surface of the container to form a first lip and a second lip, and a portion of the exterior surface between the first lip and second lip is shaped to define a recess or hole relative to at least one other portion of the exterior surface, wherein the recess is sized to receive at least a portion of an intermediate section of a handle of the cleaning implement or a top end of the handle of the cleaning implement. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the container is made from plastic.