Cleaning Apparatus

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus having a body, and a cleaning head, the body carrying a vibrating unit to cause vibratory motion of the cleaning head relative to the body, the cleaning apparatus including an attachment mechanism, the attachment mechanism being releasable to detach the cleaning head from the body.

1 . A cleaning apparatus having a body, and a cleaning head, the body carrying a vibrating unit to cause vibratory motion of the cleaning head relative to the body, the cleaning apparatus including an attachment mechanism, the attachment mechanism being releasable to detach the cleaning head from the body. 
     
     
         2 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the attachment mechanism includes at least one magnet. 
     
     
         3 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 2  including at least one locating formation to locate the cleaning head in the correct position relative to the body. 
     
     
         4 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the at least one locating formation includes a protrusion on the body and a recess on the cleaning head. 
     
     
         5 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the at least one locating formation coincides with the attachment mechanism and wherein the at least one magnet is provided in or on at least one of the recess and the protrusion. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the cleaning head is at least semi-flexible or foldable. 
     
     
         8 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 7  including a hinge to enable the cleaning head to fold. 
     
     
         9 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the cleaning head carries cleaning material, which, when the cleaning head is folded, hangs from the cleaning head substantially in a loop. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the cleaning material is a microfibre material. 
     
     
         12 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the attachment mechanism includes a retaining member for retaining a part of the body and an attachment member which is carried by the body, at least a part of the attachment member being retainable by the retaining member, to releasably attach the cleaning head to the body of the cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the attachment member is a plate which inhibits folding of the cleaning head whilst the cleaning head is attached to the body. 
     
     
         14 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the retaining mechanism is a clip which is attached to and pivotable relative to the cleaning head, between a first, open position in which a part of the plate is engageable with a part of the clip, and a second, retaining position, in which the part of the plate is retained between the clip and a part of the cleaning head. 
     
     
         15 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the retaining member is biased towards the second, retaining, position. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the cleaning head includes a handle, which is accessible at least when the cleaning head is detached from the body, the handle of the cleaning head positioned adjacent the hinge of the cleaning head. 
     
     
         19 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the handle of the cleaning head is positioned towards an upper part of the cleaning head, and is pivotable between a first, in use position, and a second, stowed position, the stowed position inhibiting interference of the handle of the cleaning head with the body of the cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein hook and loop fastening material is attached to at least a portion thereof, and wherein the cleaning head comprises at least one aperture through which the hook and loop fabric is located when the handle is in its stowed position. 
     
     
         22 . A cleaning apparatus according to any of  claims 9 , wherein at least the cleaning material is receivable in a cleaning material cleaning device, the or each retaining member providing an abutment member which inhibits insertion of at least part of the cleaning head into the cleaning material cleaning device. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method of operation of a cleaning apparatus having a body, and a cleaning head, the body carrying a vibrating unit to cause vibratory motion of the cleaning head relative to the body, the cleaning head being detachable from the body, the method including attaching the cleaning head to the body, manoeuvring the cleaning apparatus to clean at least a portion of a surface, and detaching the cleaning head from the body. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of operation of a cleaning apparatus according to  claim 25 , the cleaning apparatus including an attachment mechanism which includes a retaining member for retaining a part of the body, the attachment mechanism being releasable to detach the cleaning head from the body, the method including attaching the cleaning head to the body by moving the retaining member to an open position to receive the part of the body, and moving the retaining member to a retaining position to retain the part of the body, manoeuvring the cleaning apparatus to clean at least a portion of a surface, and moving the retaining member to the open position, to release the part of the body, so as to detach the cleaning head from the body, and wherein the cleaning apparatus includes a plurality of retaining members, and the method includes retaining respective parts of the body with each of the retaining members. 
     
     
         29 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 28  including detaching the cleaning head from the body, to clean cleaning material carried by the cleaning head and folding the cleaning head, such that the cleaning material hangs from the cleaning head substantially in a loop. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled)