Cleaning tool assembly and related method of use

Abstract

A cleaning tool assembly and method of use are disclosed for cleaning hard surfaces, such as bathroom surfaces. The cleaning tool assembly includes a cleaning tool and a cleaning pad that combine to define at least three distinct cleaning surfaces. The cleaning tool includes a handle connected to a head assembly that otherwise maintains the cleaning pad and provides a cleaning implement and a compliant cleaning edge surface. In one embodiment, the handle is expandable. In another embodiment, the cleaning pad includes a dry bleach composition.

1 . A cleaning tool assembly for cleaning hard surfaces, such as bathroom surfaces, the cleaning assembly comprising: 
 a cleaning tool including: 
 a handle,  
 a neck extending from the handle,  
 a head defining a first side, a second side, and a perimeter having a thickness,  
 wherein the first side is connected to the neck opposite the handle and includes a cleaning implement, and  
 further wherein at least a portion of the perimeter defines a compliant edge surface; and  
   a cleaning pad attached to the second side of the head;    wherein upon final assembly, at least three distinct, usable cleaning surfaces are provided by the cleaning implement, the compliant edge surface, and the cleaning pad.    
   
   
       2 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning implement, the compliant edge surface, and the cleaning pad are of dissimilar materials.  
   
   
       3 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the cleaning implement includes bristles, and the head includes a foam pad defining the compliant edge surface.  
   
   
       4 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is expandable.  
   
   
       5 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the handle includes a locking mechanism for selectively locking the handle at a selected length.  
   
   
       6 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the handle further includes: 
 an outer tubular member; and    an inner shaft;    wherein the inner shaft is slidably received within the outer tubular member, and further wherein the locking mechanism includes a lever body adapted to selectively engage one of a plurality of spaced apertures formed in the inner shaft.    
   
   
       7 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the lever body is provided as part of a grip body formed on the outer tubular member and the inner shaft is connected to the neck such that in a retracted position of the handle, the grip is adjacent the neck and in an extended position of a handle, a longitudinal spacing between the grip and the neck is increased.  
   
   
       8 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the lever body is provided as part of a grip body formed on the outer tubular member that is adapted to conform to a user's hand, and further wherein a non-circular, cross-sectional interface is defined between the inner shaft and the outer tubular member such that a rotational orientation of the grip body relative to the neck is fixed.  
   
   
       9 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the head has a generally triangular shape.  
   
   
       10 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the head includes a plate and a support pad secured to the plate, and further wherein the plate is more rigid than the support pad and defines the first side of the head.  
   
   
       11 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plate and the support pad have a similar shape, and further wherein the plate is smaller than the support pad.  
   
   
       12 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plate defines a central section formed along a line bisecting the front, and opposing side sections extending laterally from opposite sides, respectively, of the central section, and further wherein the side sections are flat for uniformly translating a pushing force applied to the central section.  
   
   
       13 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plate defines a groove for selectively receiving and maintaining the neck in a connected position in which the neck is locked relative to the head.  
   
   
       14 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning pad is releasably attached to the second side of the head.  
   
   
       15 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the head has a generally triangular shape and is oriented relative to the neck such that a front is defined at an apex of the generally triangular shape and a back is defined along an edge opposite the front, and further wherein the back edge includes a central region disposed between opposing side regions, the central region extending inwardly toward the front relative to the side regions to define a cutout for facilitating removal of the cleaning pad from the head.  
   
   
       16 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 15 , wherein a planar shape of the cleaning pad generally matches a planar shape of the head except for the cutout such that upon assembly to the head, the cleaning pad is accessible via the cutout.  
   
   
       17 . The cleaning tool assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning pad includes a bleach composition.  
   
   
       18 . A cleaning assembly kit for cleaning hard surfaces, such as bathroom surfaces, the kit comprising: 
 a first cleaning pad;    a head assembly including a neck attached to a head, the head defining a first side, a second side, and a perimeter, wherein the first side is connected to the neck and includes a cleaning implement and further wherein at least a portion of the perimeter defines a compliant edge surface;    a handle provided apart from the head assembly and attachable to the neck; and    a container containing the cleaning pad, the head assembly, and the handle;    wherein the cleaning pad is attachable to the second side of the head.    
   
   
       19 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the first cleaning pad includes a bleach component.  
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 18 , wherein the handle is transitionable between an extended position and a retracted position, and further wherein in the extended position, the handle has a length of at least 28 inches, and even further wherein the container has a length of not more than 12 inches.  
   
   
       21 . A cleaning tool for use with a cleaning pad for cleaning hard surfaces, such as bathroom surfaces, the cleaning tool comprising: 
 a handle;    a neck extending from the handle; and    a head defining a first side, a second side, and a thickness, wherein: 
 the first side is connected to the neck opposite the handle,  
 a cleaning implement is provided on the first side,  
 attachment bodies are provided on the second side for releasably maintaining a cleaning pad,  
 at least a portion of the thickness is comprised of a compliant material, and  
 the head has a generally triangular shape.  
   
   
   
       22 . The cleaning tool of  claim 21 , wherein the handle is transitionable between a longitudinally extended position and a longitudinally retracted position.  
   
   
       23 . A method of cleaning hard surfaces in a room, such as bathroom surfaces, the method comprising: 
 providing a cleaning tool assembly including: 
 a handle,  
 a neck extending from the handle,  
 a head connected to the neck and including a top side having a cleaning implement, a thickness defining a perimeter at least a portion of which forms a compliant edge of surface,  
 a cleaning pad attached to a bottom side of the head;  
   performing a first surface cleaning operation on a surface in a room with the cleaning pad;    performing a second surface cleaning operation on a surface of the room with the cleaning implement; and    performing a third surface cleaning operation on a surface in the room with the compliant edge surface;    wherein the first, second, and third cleaning operations are performed during a single cleaning session and are characterized by the cleaning pad remaining attached to the head.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first cleaning operation includes applying bleach provided by the cleaning pad.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first cleaning operation is characterized by the handle pivoting relative to the head, and the second cleaning operation is characterized by the handle being locked relative to the head.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the handle is expandable between an extended position and a retracted position, and further wherein the first cleaning operation is characterized by the handle being in the extended position and the second cleaning operation is characterized by the handle being in the retracted position.