Cleaning and Drying Device Utilizing Removably Attached Material

Abstract

A cleaning and drying device utilizing removably attached material that includes a material plate, two material retaining clips, and a handle or hand grip. The two clips are hingedly attached to the plate. When upward pressure is applied, the clips pivot upward from a center point, thereby upwardly-extending an outer edge of each clip. An edge of a material is then inserted between each clip's outer edge and the material plate. When pressure is removed, the two clips are released downward, thereby forcing the material into a channel and trapping the material between clamping member sand the channel, and the clips and the plate. Once the material is secured, the device can be used to clean or dry a surface. After cleaning or drying, the material is removed and a new material is attached. The material can be any fabric/cloth including rags, old clothing, towels or any other material, thereby precluding the requirement to use special pads or other proprietary materials.

1 . A cleaning and drying device utilizing removably attached material comprising a material plate, a material that is removably attached to said material plate by attachment means, and a handle. 
     
     
         2 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 1  wherein said material plate is comprised of a rectangular shaped structure having an upper surface and a lower surface. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 1  wherein said material is comprised of a fabric selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, rayon, silk, a blended fabric and a synthetic fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 1  wherein said attachment means for attaching said material to said material plate are comprised of a pressure assembly having a pivot rod with at least one spring that is attached to and actuates at least two material retaining clips, wherein the pivot rod and spring allow said material retaining clips to be manually extended upward under pressure, wherein when in the upward position, an edge of the material is inserted between each retaining clip and said material plate, wherein when pressure is removed, said retaining clips are released downward, thereby trapping said material between said material retaining clips and said material plate. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 1  wherein said handle is attached to, and extends outward from, said material plate. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 5  wherein said handle is comprised of an elongated rod. 
     
     
         7 . A cleaning and drying device utilizing removably attached material comprising a material plate, a first material retaining clip, a second material retaining clip, and a handle that extends outward from said material plate, wherein said first material retaining clip and said second material retaining clip are hingedly attached to said material plate, which by applying upward pressure causes said retaining clips to pivot upward from a center point, thereby upwardly extending a respective outer edge of each retaining clip and maintaining each edge in the upward position, wherein an edge of a material is inserted into a space between each said material plate and each said retaining clip, wherein pressure is removed, thereby causing said first material retaining clip and said second material retaining clip to be released downward, trapping the edges of the material between the outer edge of each retaining clip and an upper surface of said material plate, wherein once in place, said material is secured at edges and around a lower surface of said material plate and is used to clean a surface, wherein after cleaning, said material is removed and a new material is attached to said material plate. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 7  wherein said material plate has a geometrical shape that is selected from the group consisting of rectangular, square, circular, pentagonal, hexagonal or octagonal. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 7  wherein said material plate is made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal and wood. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 7  wherein located at a front edge of each side of the upper surface of said material plate is a channel that extends longitudinally along said plate, wherein extending outward from the lower surface of each said material retaining clip, and positioned in alignment with one channel on said material plate, is a clamping member, wherein each channel is dimensioned to allow a clamping member to enter into and interface with the channel, wherein the combination clamping member and channel provide additional securing of a material between said retaining clip and said material plate, when said retaining clip is released. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 7  wherein said first material retaining clip and said second material retaining clip each further comprise a serrated front edge, wherein the serrations on the serrated edge are truncated to produce flat, non-pointed tips, wherein the serrated edges provide increased ability of each said clip to maintain a material between said clip and said material plate. 
     
     
         12 . A cleaning and drying device utilizing removably attached material comprising:
 a) a material plate comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, a fourth edge, a plurality of upward-extending tabs each having an opening therethrough, and an upward-extending hinge with a slot having a lower opening wherein located on the upper surface of said plate are at least two channels that extend longitudinally along said plate, with one channel adjacent the first edge and a second channel adjacent the third edge.   b) a first material retaining clip that extends the longitudinal length of said material plate and comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, a front edge, a rear edge, at least two circular tab interfaces each having an opening, and a finger grip that extends upward from the upper surface,   c) a second material retaining clip that extends the longitudinal length of said material plate and comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, a front edge, a rear edge, at least two circular tab interfaces each having an opening, and a finger grip that extends upward from the upper surface,   d) a pressure assembly comprising a pivot rod with a first end and a second end, a first spring, and a second spring, wherein the two material retaining clips are positioned on the upper surface of said material plate with one said tab interface inserted downward between a pair of said upward-extending tabs such that the respective opening on the tab interfaces and the upward-extending tabs are aligned, with the upward-extending hinge located at a substantial center between two groups of tab interfaces and upward-extending tabs, and the lower opening on said hinge also aligned with the openings on said tab interfaces and said upward-extending tabs, wherein the first end of said rod is inserted into and sequentially passes through the openings on the two groups of tab interfaces and upward-extending tabs and said hinge, wherein as said pivot rod is inserted, said first spring is placed in alignment within the first group such that said pivot rod passes through and maintains said spring in position, and said second spring is placed in alignment within the second group such that said pivot rod passes through and maintains said spring in position, wherein once said pivot rod is completely inserted, said pressure assembly is functional, facilitating a manual upward-extending, by use of the finger grip, of said first material retaining clip under pressure, and with said first retaining clip in an upward position, an edge of a material can be inserted between the front edge of said first retaining clip and the upper surface of said material plate, wherein when pressure is removed, said clip is released downward, forcing the material into the channel between the clamping member and the channel and trapping the material between said clip and said plate, wherein the actions performed with the first material retaining clip are performed with the second material retaining clip on an opposite end of the material, wherein when both ends of the material are secured, said device is utilized to clean or dry a surface, and   e) a handle comprising an elongated rod with an upper end and a lower end, wherein located at the lower end is an attachment tab having an opening, wherein the attachment tab is inserted into the slot on said hinge, and a pin is inserted through the slot and the opening, thereby hingedly securing said handle to said material plate.   
     
     
         13 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 12  wherein said material plate has a geometric shape that is selected from the group consisting rectangular, square, circular, pentagonal, hexagonal or octagonal. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 12  wherein said material plate, said retaining clips and said pressure assembly are made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal and wood. 
     
     
         15 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 12  wherein said material is made of a fabric selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool, rayon, silk, a blended fabric, and a synthetic fabric. 
     
     
         16 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 12  wherein the front edge of said first material retaining clip and the front edge of said second material retaining clip are further serrated, wherein the serrated edges extend longitudinally the length of each retaining clip, wherein the serrated edges provide increased ability of each said clip to grip and secure a material between said clips and said material plate. 
     
     
         17 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 16  wherein the serrations on the serrated edges are truncated to produce a flat, non-pointed tip. 
     
     
         18 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 12  wherein said handle further comprises an elongated rod. 
     
     
         19 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in,  claim 12  wherein said material is further selected from the group consisting of an abrasive cleaning pad, sandpaper or a chemical polishing cloth. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaning and drying device as specified in  claim 12  wherein said material plate is further made of a malleable material that allows the shape of said plate to be formed into a desired topography.