Cleaning device with liquid reservoir and replaceable non-woven pad

Abstract

A cleaning system for selective wet or dry cleaning is disclosed. The cleaning system includes a handle defining a fluid reservoir retaining cradle and a moveably attached support member configured to receive a cleaning implement. The pivotal arrangement of the handle and support member allow liquid to be selectively applied to either the surface to be cleaned or the cleaning implement.

1 . A cleaning tool comprising: 
 a) a handle portion having an opening configured to allow access to a cradle; and    b) a cleaning pad support member moveably attached to the handle portion.    
     
     
         2 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is moveable between a first cleaning position and a second cleaning pad liquid application position.  
     
     
         3 . The cleaning tool of  claim 2 , further comprising a cleaning fluid dispenser within the cradle.  
     
     
         4 . The cleaning tool of  claim 3 , wherein the cleaning fluid dispenser comprises a pump spray bottle.  
     
     
         5 . The cleaning tool of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid dispenser comprises a flexible pouch and an attachable spray nozzle.  
     
     
         6 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning pad support member comprises a pair of parallel attachment members.  
     
     
         7 . The cleaning tool of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment members are spaced 1.25 inches apart.  
     
     
         8 . The cleaning tool of  claim 6 , wherein the parallel attachment members comprise at least one vertically extending cleaning pad retaining tab projecting from an upper surface of the attachment members.  
     
     
         9 . The cleaning tool of  claim 8 , wherein the retaining tabs comprise a first wall extending in a generally vertical direction and a second angled wall sloping from an upper edge of the first wall towards a distal end of the attachment members.  
     
     
         10 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning pad support member comprises a circular pivot member at one end, the circular pivot member configured to fit within a pivot member receiving cavity in the handle portion.  
     
     
         11 . The cleaning tool of  claim 10 , wherein the circular pivot member comprises a plurality of notches and the handle comprises a semi-flexible engagement tab projecting downward into the pivot member receiving cavity, the engagement tab configured to fit within the notches for selective pivoting of the cleaning support member.  
     
     
         12 . The cleaning tool of  claim 11 , wherein the pivot member comprises a first notch corresponding to a cleaning position, a second notch corresponding to a liquid application position, and a third notch corresponding to a storage position.  
     
     
         13 . The cleaning tool of  claim 12 , wherein the angle between the handle portion and cleaning pad support member is between 45 and 68 degrees in the liquid application position.  
     
     
         14 . The cleaning tool of  claim 12 , wherein the angle between the handle portion and cleaning pad support member is between 55 and 68 degrees in the liquid application position.  
     
     
         15 . The cleaning tool of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid dispenser comprises a mechanism configured to align the fluid dispenser within the cradle.  
     
     
         16 . The cleaning tool of  claim 15 , wherein the mechanism is a cap comprised of flats, the flats configured to align the fluid dispenser within the cradle.  
     
     
         17 . The cleaning tool of  claim 16 , wherein the cradle comprises at least one flange, the at least one flange configured to align the cap within the cradle via selective engagement with the flats.  
     
     
         18 . The cleaning tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning pad removably attached to the cleaning pad support member.  
     
     
         19 . The cleaning tool of  claim 19 , wherein the cleaning pad support member comprises at least one longitudinally extending attachment prong and the cleaning pad defines at least one sleeve configured to receive the attachment prong and secure the cleaning pad to the cleaning pad support member.  
     
     
         20 . A cleaning system including: 
 (a) a cleaning tool comprising: 
 a handle defining an interior recess for receiving a fluid reservoir; and  
 a cleaning media support pivotably attached to the handle, the support capable of pivoting rearwardly from a cleaning position;  
   (b) a cleaning media attached to the cleaning media support; and    (c) a fluid reservoir attached to the handle in the cradle, the reservoir capable of applying fluid to a surface to be cleaned and to the surface of the cleaning media.    
     
     
         21 . The cleaning system of  claim 20 , wherein the cleaning media support comprises a pair of parallel laterally extending attachment prongs.  
     
     
         22 . The cleaning system of  claim 21 , wherein the attachment prongs comprise a plurality of projections extending generally vertically from the prongs.  
     
     
         23 . The cleaning system of  claim 22 , wherein the projections comprise an angled side sloping away from the handle.  
     
     
         24 . The cleaning system of  claim 20 , wherein the support comprises a pivot member at one end the pivot member including a plurality of indentations configured to receive a semi-flexible engagement tab projecting downward from the handle.  
     
     
         25 . The cleaning system of  claim 24 , wherein the pivot member comprises a first indentation defining a cleaning position, a second indentation defining a liquid application position, and a third indentation defining a storage position.  
     
     
         26 . The cleaning system of  claim 25 , wherein the angle between the handle and cleaning media support is between 45 and 68 degrees in the liquid application position.  
     
     
         27 . The cleaning system of  claim 25 , wherein the angle between the handle and cleaning media support is between 55 and 68 degrees in the liquid application position.  
     
     
         28 . The cleaning system of  claim 25 , wherein the angle between the handle and cleaning media support is about 63 degrees in the cleaning position.  
     
     
         29 . The cleaning system of  claim 20 , wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a spray nozzle and fluid container integral with the handle.  
     
     
         30 . The cleaning system of  claim 20 , wherein the fluid reservoir comprises opposed flat sidewalls, the sidewalls configured to align the fluid reservoir within the recess.  
     
     
         31 . A cleaning kit comprising: 
 a handle defining a cleaning fluid reservoir receiving bay;    a cleaning pad support pivotally attached to the handle, the support capable of pivoting from a cleaning position to a storage position wherein the support is substantially folded upon the handle;    a cleaning pad having a combination of fibers and at least one nonwoven sheet; and    a fluid reservoir attached to the handle within the bay the reservoir comprising a spray cap having opposed flats configured to align the spray cap within the receiving bay.    
     
     
         32 . A device for cleaning a surface comprising: 
 a handle;    a pivot joint connected to the handle;    a cleaning head portion connected to the pivot joint and capable of folding beneath the handle.    
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 32 , further comprising a fluid dispenser connected to the device and able to dispense fluid upon the cleaning head.  
     
     
         34 . A cleaning tool for wet, damp or dry cleaning comprising: 
 a) a handle portion defining a cradle for a fluid reservoir; and    b) a cleaning implement support member attached to the handle portion.    
     
     
         35 . The cleaning tool of  claim 34 , wherein the cleaning implement support member is movably attached to the handle portion.  
     
     
         36 . The cleaning tool of  claim 35 , wherein the cleaning implement support member is pivotally attached to the handle portion.  
     
     
         37 . The cleaning tool of  claim 35 , wherein the cleaning implement support member is slidably attached to the handle portion.  
     
     
         38 . The cleaning tool of  claim 34 , wherein the handle portion has a top, a bottom and an opening configured to allow access into the cradle.  
     
     
         39 . The cleaning tool of  claim 35 , wherein the cleaning implement support member is moveable between a first cleaning position and a second cleaning pad liquid application position.  
     
     
         40 . The cleaning tool of  claim 34 , further comprising a detachable cleaning fluid dispenser within the cradle.  
     
     
         41 . The cleaning tool of  claim 36 , wherein the cleaning implement support member comprises a circular pivot member at one end, the circular pivot member configured to fit within a pivot member receiving cavity in the handle portion.  
     
     
         42 . The cleaning tool of  claim 41 , wherein the circular pivot member comprises a plurality of notches and the handle comprises a semi-flexible engagement tab projecting downward into the pivot member receiving cavity, the engagement tab configured to fit within the notches for selective pivoting of the cleaning support member.  
     
     
         43 . The cleaning tool of  claim 42  wherein the engagement of the semi-flexible engagement tab into the notches produces and auditory signal.  
     
     
         44 . The cleaning tool of  claim 36 , wherein a pivot point on the handle portion is located below a horizontal plane defined by a fluid reservoir within the cradle.