Soap dispensing cleaning device

Abstract

A fluid-containing cleaning device has a housing with a generally cylindrical wall open at one end and closed at the other end by a base carrying a cleaning medium. The housing defines a fluid reservoir and the base has a central opening therein closed by a valve member for dispensing liquid to the cleaning medium. The valve is activated by pressure increase in the reservoir caused by deflection of a button. The button includes a bias member to return the button to a rest position.

1 . A fluid-containing cleaning device comprising: 
 a housing defining a fluid reservoir and an opening,    a cleaning medium carried by the housing,    a valve carried by the housing for providing communication between the reservoir and the cleaning medium,    a closure structure closing the opening;    a flexible and resilient actuator adjacent the reservoir and deflectable between a rest position and an actuating position; and    a bias structure disposed adjacent to the actuator so that upon depression of the actuator the bias structure will return the actuator to its rest position.    
   
   
       2 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the bias structure is formed of a resilient material and the actuator includes a dome portion and the bias structure abuts the actuator at the dome portion.  
   
   
       3 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising a retaining plate mounted in the opening and wherein the bias structure includes a spring disposed between the actuator and the retaining plate.  
   
   
       4 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure structure includes a collar protruding therefrom in order to receive the bias structure.  
   
   
       5 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure structure includes a cap having a threaded portion for coupling the button to the housing.  
   
   
       6 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the bias structure is a coil spring.  
   
   
       7 . The cleaning device of  claim 6 , wherein the coil spring is metallic.  
   
   
       8 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a base on which said cleaning medium is carried and having an aperture therein, said valve being movable between open and closed positions relative to said aperture.  
   
   
       9 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the bias structure includes a bias member, and further comprising a retaining plate mounted in the opening and the plate including a cross-shaped support member for supporting the bias member therein.  
   
   
       10 . The cleaning device of  claim 9 , wherein said support member includes a cylindrical cup for receiving an end of the bias member therein.  
   
   
       11 . The cleaning device of  claim 9 , wherein the support member includes a channel for receiving the bias member therein.  
   
   
       12 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the bias structure is mounted between a collar of the actuator and a channel of a retaining plate mounted in the opening.  
   
   
       13 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure structure includes the actuator that includes an interior surface and the bias structure includes an arm extending transverse to the interior surface.  
   
   
       14 . The cleaning device of  claim 13 , wherein the actuator includes a nipple protruding into the interior and the arm extending from the nipple.  
   
   
       15 . The cleaning device of  claim 14 , wherein a pair of arms extend from the nipple.  
   
   
       16 . The cleaning device of  claim 14 , wherein four arms extend from the nipple.  
   
   
       17 . The cleaning device of  claim 16 , wherein the arms form a cross-shape.  
   
   
       18 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , wherein the bias structure includes a cone having spiraling walls.  
   
   
       19 . The cleaning device of  claim 18 , wherein the cone includes a nipple formed at its apex.  
   
   
       20 . The cleaning device of  claim 1 , further comprising a gasket portion of the actuator providing a fluid-tight seal between the closure structure and the housing.  
   
   
       21 . A method of assembling a cleaning device comprising the steps of: 
 providing a housing having an opening and a base;    mounting a valve in the base;    mounting a retaining plate in the opening;    mounting a bias member to the retaining plate;    coupling a closure structure to the housing and closing the opening; and    trapping the bias member between the button and the retaining plate;    wherein upon depression of the button, pressure will increase within the housing activating the valve and compressing the bias member and upon release of the button, the bias member will decompress and return the button to its rest position.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of threadedly coupling a cap of the button to the housing.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of mounting the bias member to a channel of the retaining plate.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of mounting the bias member to a collar of the button.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the retaining plate is mounted to the button via a coupling means.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the valve is mounted to the base and thereafter the base is attached to the housing.