Hand-held, battery powered cleaning tool

Abstract

A hand held cleaning tool is powered by commonly available batteries. Preferably a momentary switch selectively delivers power from the batteries to a motor. An output shaft of the tool includes an expandable coupling, such as, for example a set of swaging cams. Torque delivery arms radiate outward from the output shaft. For example, the torque delivery arms are carried by a hub. The hub is attached to the output shaft with a pin. The hub also acts to secure a power train including the motor and output shaft to a housing of the cleaning tool. The torque delivery arms are received in slots or interdental spaces associated with a cleaning head. Torque is delivered to the cleaning head with a reduced stress concentration.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cleaning system comprising: 
 a power compartment including: 
 a power source housed within the power compartment;  
 a motor mounted within the power compartment, the motor powered by the power source;  
 a switch for selectively connecting the motor to the power source; and,  
 a power output driven by the motor for delivering power to a device connected to the power compartment;  
   a transmission module selectively connectable to the power compartment; and    a cleaning head selectively connectable to the transmission module.    
     
     
         2 . The cleaning system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 at least one additional transmission module, each transmission module including a different drive mechanism and being selectively connectable to the to the power compartment.  
 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 at least one additional cleaning head, each cleaning head being configured for a particular cleaning task, each cleaning head being selectively connectable to the transmission module to be selectively driven by the drive mechanism of the transmission module, whereby the cleaning system can be used to accomplish a particular cleaning task.  
 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning system of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 at least one additional cleaning head, each cleaning head being configured for a particular cleaning task, each cleaning head being selectively connectable to at least one of the transmission modules to be selectively driven by the drive mechanism of the at least one of the transmission modules, whereby the cleaning system can be used to accomplish a particular cleaning task.  
 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning system of  claim 1  wherein the power source comprises at least one battery.  
     
     
         6 . The cleaning system of  claim 2  wherein the at least one battery comprises a disposable battery.  
     
     
         7 . The cleaning system of  claim 1  wherein the power source comprises four AA size batteries.  
     
     
         8 . The cleaning system of  claim 1  wherein the switch is a momentary switch.  
     
     
         9 . The cleaning system of  claim 2  wherein the switch is a momentary switch.  
     
     
         10 . The cleaning system of  claim 3  wherein the switch is a momentary switch.  
     
     
         11 . The cleaning system of  claim 4  wherein the switch is a momentary switch.  
     
     
         12 . The cleaning system of  claim 1  wherein the switch is included in the transmission module and is actuated through the application of pressure or force upon the cleaning head connected to the transmission module.  
     
     
         13 . The cleaning system of  claim 12  wherein the switch is a momentary switch.  
     
     
         14 . The cleaning system of  claim 1  wherein the power compartment and the transmission module include respective mating threads for selectively connecting the transmission module to the power compartment.  
     
     
         15 . The cleaning system of  claim 1  wherein the cleaning head comprises a cleaning element pretreated with a cleansing agent.  
     
     
         16 . The cleaning system of  claim 1  wherein the cleaning head comprises a pot scrubber.  
     
     
         17 . The cleaning system of  claim 1  wherein the cleaning head comprises a glass cleaner.  
     
     
         18 . The cleaning system of  claim 2  wherein the power compartment and each of the transmission modules comprise elongated housings.  
     
     
         19 . The cleaning system of  claim 18  wherein the elongated transmission module has a length selected to give the cleaning system an over all length optimized for a bathroom cleaning task.  
     
     
         20 . The cleaning system of  claim 18  wherein the elongated transmission module has a length selected to give the cleaning system an over all length in the range of about 14 inches to about 40 inches, thereby providing a comfortable reach for a bathroom cleaning task.  
     
     
         21 . The cleaning system of  claim 2  wherein each of the transmission modules is configured to drive the cleaning head in a manner directed to a particular cleaning task.  
     
     
         22 . The cleaning system of  claim 2  wherein a first transmission module includes a drive mechanism having a first transmission ratio and a second transmission module includes a drive mechanism having a second transmission ratio.  
     
     
         23 . The cleaning system of  claim 1  wherein the power compartment includes a gripping portion sized and shaped to fit comfortably in the hand of a user.  
     
     
         24 . The cleaning system of  claim 23  wherein the gripping portion is at least about 3.5 inches in length, thereby allowing the gripping portion to be comfortably cradled in a palm of a user.  
     
     
         25 . The cleaning system of  claim 23  wherein the gripping portion is at about one inch in width, thereby allowing the fingers of a user to be comfortably wrapped around the gripping portion.  
     
     
         26 . The cleaning system of  claim 23  wherein the gripping portion is at about 1.4 inches in height, thereby allowing the gripping section to be cradled comfortably in a palm of a user and allowing the fingers of a user to be comfortably wrapped around the gripping portion.  
     
     
         27 . The cleaning system of  claim 23  wherein the switch is located adjacent to the gripping portion, a center of a switch button being spaced about ¾ to about 1 inch from a first end of the gripping portion along a longitudinal axis of the power compartment, along an upper edge of the power compartment so that when a heel of a hand of a user rests comfortably on the upper edge of the power compartment, a thumb of the user can comfortably actuate the switch.  
     
     
         28 . The cleaning system of  claim 1  further comprising a swaging cam associated with an output of the transmission, the swaging cam being operative to mate with and retain a mating portion of the cleaning head.  
     
     
         29 . The cleaning system of  claim 1  further comprising an output hub associated with an output of the transmission, the output hub including a torque arm, the toque arm being operative to be received within interdental spaces of torque teeth of the cleaning head when the cleaning head is connected to the transmission module, the torque arm thereby providing a moment arm for the delivery of torque to the cleaning head.  
     
     
         30 . The cleaning system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a battery door for securing the power source inside the power compartment;  
 a first o-ring for forming a seal between the battery door and a second end of the gripping portion;  
 a gasket for forming a seal between the first end of the power compartment and the transmission compartment;  
 a seal for sealing the output end of the transmission compartment; and  
 a sealing button for sealing a switch access via in the power compartment.  
 
     
     
         31 . A cleaning wand configured for hand-held cleaning, the cleaning wand comprising: 
 an elongated power compartment including: 
 a power source housed within the power compartment;  
 a motor mounted within the power compartment, the motor selectively connected to the power source;  
 a power output driven by the motor for delivering power to a device connected to the power compartment;  
   an elongated transmission module including threads for selectively connecting the transmission module to or disconnecting the transmission module from the power compartment, the transmission module including a mechanism for transforming power from the power output to a form selected for a particular cleaning task;    a cleaning head; and    a switch for selectively connecting the motor to the power source.    
     
     
         32 . The cleaning wand of  claim 1  wherein the cleaning head is configured for selective installation at a longitudinal axial end of the transmission module to be selectively driven by the mechanism of transmission module, whereby the cleaning wand can be used to accomplish a particular cleaning task.  
     
     
         33 . The cleaning wand of  claim 31  wherein the switch is a momentary switch.  
     
     
         34 . The cleaning wand of  claim 31  wherein the switch is included in the transmission module and is actuated through the application of pressure or force upon the cleaning head connected to the transmission module.  
     
     
         35 . The cleaning wand of  claim 31  wherein the switch is a finger switch included on the power compartment than can be actuated through the application of pressure from a finger of a user.  
     
     
         36 . The cleaning wand of  claim 31  wherein the power compartment further comprises a battery charger.  
     
     
         37 . The cleaning wand of  claim 31  wherein the power source comprises at least one battery.  
     
     
         38 . The cleaning wand of  claim 31  wherein the at least one battery comprises a disposable battery.  
     
     
         39 . The cleaning wand of  claim 31  wherein the at least one battery comprises four AA size batteries.  
     
     
         40 . The cleaning wand of  claim 31  further comprising an expandable coupling for being matingly received in a socket of the cleaning head.  
     
     
         41 . The cleaning wand of  claim 40  wherein the expandable coupling comprises a swaging cam.  
     
     
         42 . The cleaning wand of  claim 40  further comprising a torque transmission arm for being matingly received between two of a plurality of moment arm teeth of the cleaning head.  
     
     
         43 . The cleaning wand of  claim 31  wherein the switch comprises 
 a switch support mounted to a back end of the motor;  
 a resiliently biased arm mounted too the switch support, the resiliently biased arm being resiliently spaced, in an over lapping manner, from a power terminal of the motor.  
 
     
     
         44 . The cleaning wand of  claim 31  wherein the switch further comprises a flexible membrane sealingly engaging an aperture in the power compartment.  
     
     
         45 . The cleaning wand of  claim 31  wherein the transmission module includes a transmission sleeve, the transmission sleeve engaging a portion of the power compartment.  
     
     
         46 . The cleaning wand of  claim 45  wherein the transmission module includes a transmission module shell, the transmission sleeve being received within the transmission module shell, the transmission module shell including a threaded end for threadingly engaging a threaded end of the power compartment.  
     
     
         47 . A cleaning system comprising: 
 a handle: 
 a power source housed within the handle;  
 an upper housing selectively connectable to the handle;  
 a transmission mounted within the upper housing;  
 a motor mounted to a power input portion of the transmission;  
 a contact holder mounted to a back end of the motor;  
 a switching element mounted to the contact holder, the switching element being resiliently bias away from a power contact of the motor;  
 a hub connected to an output of the transmission; and  
 a cleaning head selectively connectable at the hub.  
   
     
     
         48 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  further comprising: 
 at least one additional upper housing, each upper housing including a different transmission and/or motor, and a hub, and each upper housing being selectively connectable to the to the handle.  
 
     
     
         49 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  further comprising: 
 at least one additional cleaning head, each cleaning head being configured for a particular cleaning task, each cleaning head being selectively connectable the hub to be selectively driven by the transmission of the upper housing, whereby the cleaning system can be used to accomplish a particular cleaning task.  
 
     
     
         50 . The cleaning system of  claim 48  further comprising: 
 at least one additional cleaning head, each cleaning head being configured for a particular cleaning task, each cleaning head being selectively connectable to at least one of the upper housings to be selectively driven by the transmission of the at least one upper housing, whereby the cleaning system can be used to accomplish a particular cleaning task.  
 
     
     
         51 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  wherein the power source comprises at least one battery.  
     
     
         52 . The cleaning system of  claim 51  wherein the at least one battery comprises a disposable battery.  
     
     
         53 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  wherein the power source comprises four AA size batteries.  
     
     
         54 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  wherein the switch is a momentary switch.  
     
     
         55 . The cleaning system of  claim 48  wherein the switch is a momentary switch.  
     
     
         56 . The cleaning system of  claim 49  wherein the switch is a momentary switch.  
     
     
         57 . The cleaning system of  claim 50  wherein the switch is a momentary switch.  
     
     
         58 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  wherein the switch is actuated through the application of pressure or force upon the cleaning head installed in the upper housing.  
     
     
         59 . The cleaning system of  claim 58  wherein the switch is a momentary switch.  
     
     
         60 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  wherein the handle and the upper housing include respective mating threads for selectively connecting the upper housing to the handle.  
     
     
         61 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  wherein the cleaning head comprises a cleaning element pretreated with a cleansing agent.  
     
     
         62 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  wherein the cleaning head comprises a pot scrubber.  
     
     
         63 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  wherein the cleaning head comprises a glass cleaner.  
     
     
         64 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  wherein the handle and each of the plurality of upper housings comprise elongated housings.  
     
     
         65 . The cleaning system of  claim 64  wherein the elongated upper housing has a length selected to give the cleaning system an over all length optimized for a bathroom cleaning task.  
     
     
         66 . The cleaning system of  claim 65  wherein the elongated upper housing has a length selected to give the cleaning system an over all length in the range of about 14 inches to about 40 inches, thereby providing a comfortable reach for a bathroom cleaning task.  
     
     
         67 . The cleaning system of  claim 50  wherein each of the plurality of upper housings includes a motor and transmission configured to drive at least one of the cleaning heads in a manner directed to a particular cleaning task.  
     
     
         68 . The cleaning system of  claim 48  wherein a first upper housing of the plurality of upper housings includes a drive mechanism having a first transmission ratio and a second upper housing includes a drive mechanism having a second transmission ratio.  
     
     
         69 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  wherein the handle includes a gripping portion sized and shaped to fit comfortably in the hand of a user.  
     
     
         70 . The cleaning system of  claim 69  wherein the gripping portion is at least about 3.5 inches in length, thereby allowing the gripping portion to be comfortably cradled in a palm of a user.  
     
     
         71 . The cleaning system of  claim 69  wherein the gripping portion is at about one inch in width, thereby allowing the fingers of a user to be comfortably wrapped around the gripping portion.  
     
     
         72 . The cleaning system of  claim 69  wherein the gripping portion is at about 1.4 inches in height, thereby allowing the gripping section to be cradled comfortably in a palm of a user and allowing the fingers of a user to be comfortably wrapped around the gripping portion.  
     
     
         73 . The cleaning system of  claim 69  wherein the switch is located adjacent to the gripping portion, a center of the switch being spaced about ¾ to about 1 inch from a first end of the gripping portion along a direction of a longitudinal axis of the handle, along an upper edge of the handle so that when a heel of a hand of a user rests on the upper edge of the handle, a thumb of a user can comfortably actuate the switch.  
     
     
         74 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  further comprising a swaging cam associated with an output of the transmission, the swaging cam being operative to receive and retain a mating portion of the cleaning head.  
     
     
         75 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  further comprising an output hub associated with an output of the transmission, the output hub including at least one torque transmitting arm, the toque transmitting arm being operative to be received within interdental spaces of torque receiving teeth of the cleaning head when the cleaning head is connected to the upper housing, the torque transmitting arm thereby providing a moment arm for the delivery of torque to the cleaning head.  
     
     
         76 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  further comprising: 
 a battery door for securing the power source inside the handle and for providing access for replacing the power source;  
 a first o-ring for forming a seal between the battery door and an end of the handle;  
 a gasket for forming a seal between the first end of the handle and the transmission compartment; and,  
 a seal for sealing an output end of the upper housing.  
 
     
     
         77 . The cleaning system of  claim 47  further comprising: 
 a sealing button for sealing a switch access via in the cleaning system.  
 
     
     
         78 . A cleaning wand configured for hand-held cleaning, the cleaning wand comprising: 
 an elongated handle including: 
 a power source housed within the handle;  
 an elongated upper housing including threads for selectively connecting the upper housing to or disconnecting the upper housing from the handle;  
 a mechanism for transforming input power to a movement selected for a particular cleaning task;  
 a motor mounted to the mechanism for providing input power to the mechanism, the motor being selectively connected to the power source;  
 a switch for selectively connecting the motor to the power source;  
 a cleaning head; and  
 an interconnect for selectively connecting the cleaning head to a movement output of the mechanism.  
   
     
     
         79 . The cleaning wand of  claim 78  wherein the cleaning head is configured for selective installation at a longitudinal axial end of the upper housing to be selectively driven by the mechanism of upper housing, whereby the cleaning wand can be used to accomplish a particular cleaning task.  
     
     
         80 . The cleaning wand of  claim 78  wherein the switch is a momentary switch.  
     
     
         81 . The cleaning wand of  claim 78  wherein the switch is included in the upper housing and is actuated through the application of pressure or force upon the cleaning head connected at the interconnect.  
     
     
         82 . The cleaning wand of  claim 78  wherein the switch is a finger switch included on the handle that can be actuated through the application of pressure from a finger of a user.  
     
     
         83 . The cleaning wand of  claim 78  wherein the handle further comprises a battery charger.  
     
     
         84 . The cleaning wand of  claim 78  wherein the power source comprises at least one battery.  
     
     
         85 . The cleaning wand of  claim 78  wherein the at least one battery comprises a disposable battery.  
     
     
         86 . The cleaning wand of  claim 78  wherein the at least one battery comprises four AA size batteries.  
     
     
         87 . The cleaning wand of  claim 78  wherein the interconnect comprises an expandable coupling for being matingly received in a socket of the cleaning head.  
     
     
         88 . The cleaning wand of  claim 87  wherein the expandable coupling comprises a swaging cam.  
     
     
         89 . The cleaning wand of  claim 78  further comprising an arm for being matingly received between two moment arm teeth of the cleaning head.  
     
     
         90 . The cleaning wand of  claim 78  wherein the switch comprises 
 a switch support mounted to a back end of the motor;  
 a conductive resiliently biased arm mounted too the switch support, the resiliently biased arm being resiliently spaced, in an over lapping manner, from a power terminal of the motor.  
 
     
     
         91 . The cleaning wand of  claim 78  wherein the switch further comprises a flexible membrane sealingly engaging an aperture in the handle.  
     
     
         92 . The cleaning wand of  claim 78  wherein the upper housing includes a transmission sleeve, the transmission sleeve matingly engaging a portion of the upper housing, thereby preventing the transmission sleeve from rotating.  
     
     
         93 . An ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool comprising 
 a detachable cleaning head;    a generally cylindrical housing;    a battery located in a battery compartment in the housing;    an electric motor located in the housing;    a contact holder mounted to the motor, the contact holder including contacts for receiving power from the batteries and a switch element in overlapping relation to a motor contact, the switch element being resiliently biased away from the motor contact;    an output shaft;    a transmission for coupling the motor to the output shaft, the output shaft extending outside the housing;    means for attaching the detachable cleaning head to the output shaft.    
     
     
         94 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 93  wherein the means for attaching the detachable cleaning head to the output shaft comprises a swaging cam molded into the output shaft and a socket for receiving the swaging cam, the socket being associated with the cleaning attachment.  
     
     
         95 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 93  wherein the transmission comprises a first set of planetary gears configured to receive a pinion gear mounted to an output shaft of the motor.  
     
     
         96 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 95  wherein the transmission comprises a second set of planetary gears and a gear holder with pinion for interconnecting the first set of planetary gears with the second set of planetary gears.  
     
     
         97 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 96  wherein the output shaft includes a second gear holder molded thereto.  
     
     
         98 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 93  wherein the generally cylindrical housing includes a gripping portion sized and shaped to fit comfortably in the hand of a user.  
     
     
         99 . The cleaning system of  claim 98  wherein the gripping portion is at least about 3.5 inches in length, thereby allowing the gripping portion to be comfortably cradled in a palm of a user.  
     
     
         100 . The cleaning system of  claim 98  wherein the gripping portion is at about one inch in width, thereby allowing the fingers of a user to be comfortably wrapped around the gripping portion.  
     
     
         101 . The cleaning system of  claim 98  wherein the gripping portion is at about 1.4 inches in height, thereby allowing the gripping section to be cradled comfortably in a palm of a user and allowing the fingers of a user to be comfortably wrapped around the gripping portion.  
     
     
         102 . The cleaning system of  claim 98  wherein the switch is located adjacent to the gripping portion, a center of the switch being spaced about ¾ to about 1 inch from a first end of the gripping portion along a longitudinal axis of the housing, along an upper edge of the housing so that when a heel of a hand of a user rests comfortably on the upper edge of the power compartment, a thumb of a user can comfortably actuate the switch.  
     
     
         103 . The cleaning system of  claim 98  wherein the gripping portion is hollowed for forming a battery compartment for housing the replaceable batteries.  
     
     
         104 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 94  wherein the means for attaching the detachable cleaning head to the output shaft further comprises a hub, the hub including torque delivery arms the torque delivery arms configured to be received within interdental spaces of torque receiving teeth associated with the cleaning head.  
     
     
         105 . An ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool comprising 
 a detachable cleaning head;    a generally cylindrical housing including 
 a lower housing including a gripping portion;  
 an upper housing connected to the lower housing and extending away from the lower housing, an attachment point for the detachable head being located at a distal end of the upper housing;  
   a battery located in a battery compartment in the housing;    an electric motor located in the housing;    a switch for actuating the cleaning tool by directing power from the battery to the electric motor, the switch being disposed in relation to the gripping portion to allow the switch to be comfortably operated by a finger of a hand gripping the gripping portion, the upper housing being dimensioned to space the detachable cleaning head from the gripping portion and the switch to allow the cleaning tool to be gripped, actuated and the cleaning head to be brought in contact with a work piece while preventing the work piece from interfering with the hand gripping the gripping portion or the finger operating the switch;    an output shaft;    a transmission for coupling the motor to the output shaft, the output shaft extending outside the upper housing at the distal end;    means for attaching the detachable cleaning head to the output shaft.    
     
     
         106 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 105  wherein the switch is a momentary switch.  
     
     
         107 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 105  wherein the means for attaching the detachable cleaning head to the output shaft comprises a swaging cam molded into the output shaft and a socket for receiving the swaging cam, the socket being associated with the cleaning attachment.  
     
     
         108 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 105  wherein the transmission comprises a first set of planetary gears configured to receive a pinion gear mounted to an output shaft of the motor.  
     
     
         109 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 108  wherein the transmission comprises a second set of planetary gears and a gear holder with pinion for interconnecting the first set of planetary gears with the second set of planetary gears.  
     
     
         110 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 108  wherein the output shaft includes a second gear holder molded thereto.  
     
     
         111 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 105  wherein the gripping portion sized and shaped to fit comfortably in the hand of a user.  
     
     
         112 . The cleaning system of  claim 112  wherein the gripping portion is at least about 3.5 inches in length, thereby allowing the gripping portion to be comfortably cradled in a palm of a user.  
     
     
         113 . The cleaning system of  claim 111  wherein the gripping portion is at about an inch in width, thereby allowing the fingers of a user to be comfortably wrapped around the gripping portion.  
     
     
         114 . The cleaning system of  claim 111  wherein the gripping portion is at about 1.4 inches in height, thereby allowing the gripping section to be cradled comfortably in a palm of a user and allowing the fingers of a user to be comfortably wrapped around the gripping portion.  
     
     
         115 . The cleaning system of  claim 111  wherein a center of the switch is spaced about ¾ to about 1 inch from a first end of the gripping portion along a longitudinal axis of the housing, along an upper edge of the housing so that when a heel of a hand of a user rests comfortably on the upper edge of the power compartment, a thumb of a user can comfortably actuate the switch.  
     
     
         116 . An ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool comprising 
 a detachable cleaning head;    a generally cylindrical housing including 
 a lower housing including a gripping portion;  
 an upper housing connected to the lower housing and extending away from the lower housing, an attachment point for the detachable head being located at a distal end of the upper housing;  
   a battery located in a battery compartment in the housing;    an electric motor located in the housing;    a momentary switch for actuating the cleaning tool by directing power from the battery to the electric motor, the momentary switch being disposed in relation to the gripping portion to allow the switch to be comfortably operated by a finger of a hand gripping the gripping portion, the upper housing being dimensioned to space the detachable cleaning head from the gripping portion and the momentary switch to allow the cleaning tool to be gripped, actuated and the cleaning head to be brought in contact with a work piece while preventing the work piece from interfering with the hand gripping the gripping portion or the finger operating the momentary switch;    an output shaft;    a transmission for coupling the motor to the output shaft, the output shaft extending outside the upper housing at the distal end;    means for attaching the detachable cleaning head to the output shaft.    
     
     
         117 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 116  wherein the means for attaching the detachable cleaning head to the output shaft comprises a swaging cam molded into the output shaft and a socket for receiving the swaging cam, the socket being associated with the cleaning attachment.  
     
     
         118 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 116  wherein the transmission comprises a first set of planetary gears configured to receive a pinion gear mounted to an output shaft of the motor.  
     
     
         119 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 116  wherein the transmission comprises a second set of planetary gears and a gear holder with pinion for interconnecting the first set of planetary gears with the second set of planetary gears.  
     
     
         120 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 119  wherein the output shaft includes a second gear holder molded thereto.  
     
     
         121 . The ergonomic, hand held, battery powered cleaning tool of  claim 116  wherein the gripping portion sized and shaped to fit comfortably in the hand of a user.  
     
     
         122 . The cleaning system of  claim 121  wherein the gripping portion is at least about 3.5 inches in length, thereby allowing the gripping portion to be comfortably cradled in a palm of a user.  
     
     
         123 . The cleaning system of  claim 121  wherein the gripping portion is at about one inch in width, thereby allowing the fingers of a user to be comfortably wrapped around the gripping portion.  
     
     
         124 . The cleaning system of  claim 121  wherein the gripping portion is at about 1.4 inches in height, thereby allowing the gripping section to be cradled comfortably in a palm of a user and allowing the fingers of a user to be comfortably wrapped around the gripping portion.  
     
     
         125 . The cleaning system of  claim 121  wherein a center of the momentary switch is spaced about ¾ to about 1 inch from a first end of the gripping portion along a longitudinal axis of the housing, along an upper edge of the housing so that when a heel of a hand of a user rests comfortably on the upper edge of the power compartment, a thumb of a user can comfortably actuate the switch.  
     
     
         126 . A durable cleaning tool comprising: 
 a housing including a power compartment for holding a power source;    a motor mounted within the housing;    a switch for selectively connecting the motor to the power source if the power source is installed within the compartment;    an output shaft, extending from within the housing to outside the housing, the output shaft being powered directly or indirectly by the motor;    torque transmission arms extending radially outward from the portion of the output shaft extending outside the housing;    a cleaning head; and,    torque receiving elements associated with the cleaning head for receiving torque from the torque transmission arms.    
     
     
         127 . The durable cleaning tool of  claim 126  wherein the torque transmission arms extend radially outward at least about 0.5 inches from a longitudinal axis of the output shaft.  
     
     
         128 . The durable cleaning tool of  claim 126  wherein the torque receiving elements engage the torque transmission arms at at least about 0.5 inches from a longitudinal axis of the output shaft.  
     
     
         129 . The durable cleaning tool of  claim 126  further comprising a hub attached to the portion of the output shaft extending outside the housing, the hub carrying the torque transmission arms.  
     
     
         130 . The durable cleaning tool of  claim 126  wherein the torque receiving elements comprise teeth, the torque transmitting arms being receivable in interdental spaces between the teeth.  
     
     
         131 . The durable cleaning tool of  claim 126  wherein the switch further comprises 
 a switching contact resiliently biased from a motor terminal contact and the cleaning too further comprises: 
 a contact holder mounted to a back end of the motor, the contact holder being operative to support the switching contact and the motor terminal contact;  
 a keying mechanism having keying elements distributed between the housing and the contact holder, the keying mechanism being operative to ensure the contact holder is installed within the housing in a proper orientation and to prevent the contact holder and therefore the motor from rotating once they are properly installed within the housing.  
 
 
     
     
         132 . The durable cleaning tool of  claim 126  wherein the power source comprises four AA size batteries.  
     
     
         133 . The durable cleaning tool of  claim 126  wherein the housing comprises and upper housing and a lower housing.  
     
     
         134 . The durable cleaning tool of  claim 133  wherein the output shaft is captured within the upper housing by a hub installed on the portion of the output shaft extending outside the housing, the durable cleaning tool further comprising: 
 a peripheral gear housing within the upper housing, captured to a wall of the upper housing by a bearing installed on the a portion of the output shaft within the housing and a hub installed on a the portion of the output shaft extending outside the housing;  
 a motor mount attached to a front end of the motor and attached to the peripheral gear housing, thereby associating the motor with the upper housing.