Grooming/cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus includes a handle, a support coupled to the handle and a cleaning element mountable on the support. The support is fixed to the handle or is rotatably coupled to the handle for rotation by a drive motor mounted in the handle. The cleaning element may include bristles extending from a flexible mat fixed about the support of about a core mountable on the support. A cleaning sheet is windable about the support, the core or the cleaning element, including over and through the bristles, for dual cleaning action.

1 . A cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 a cleaning element;    a support for carrying the cleaning element; and    a handle coupled to the cleaning element support.    
   
   
       2 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the handle rotatably coupled to the support; and    powered drive means, carried in the handle, and having a rotatable output shaft, the output shaft coupled to the support for rotating the support upon activation of the powered drive means.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 means for coupling the output shaft to the support.    
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the power drive means comprises: 
 a motor mounted in the handle; and    an electrical power source mounted in the handle and coupled to the motor.    
   
   
       6 - 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning element comprises: 
 a mat having an exterior surface formed with cleaning members fixed to the core.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the cleaning member comprises: 
 a plurality of bristles extending from the mat.    
   
   
       10 - 12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a sheet disposed over the bristles.    
   
   
       14 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 8 . wherein the cleaning element comprises: 
 a non-woven fabric sheet.    
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the cleaning element further comprises: 
 a plurality of bristles extending from a mat mountable over the support.    
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein: 
 the bristles extend through the fabric sheet.    
   
   
       31 - 48 . (canceled)  
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 vacuum generating means, carried in the handle, and coupled to the drive means, for generating an inward air flow through the conduit coupled to the handle, the conduit disposed in fluid communication with the vacuum generating means and a debris collection chamber coupled to the handle.    
   
   
       50 - 74 . (canceled)  
   
   
       75 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a vacuum element mounted therein.  
   
   
       76 . The apparatus of  claim 75 , wherein said vacuum element is entered through at least one slot in said handle.  
   
   
       77 . The apparatus of  claim 75 , wherein said vacuum element selectively causes air to flow into an interior chamber in said handle.  
   
   
       78 . The apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein air selectively flows through a vacuum head into said chamber.  
   
   
       79 . The apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein said chamber is selectively accessible for removal of collected debris.  
   
   
       80 . The apparatus of  claim 79 , wherein a portion of said handle is hinged or removable to enable access to said chamber.  
   
   
       81 . The apparatus of  claim 77 , wherein said chamber includes a removable bin.  
   
   
       82 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said powered drive means has a second output shaft for driving a vacuum element upon activation of said powered drive means.  
   
   
       83 . The apparatus of  claim 82 , wherein said vacuum element generates a suction force through a vacuum head.  
   
   
       84 . The apparatus of  claim 83 , wherein said vacuum head extends from said handle.  
   
   
       85 . The application of  claim 84 , wherein said vacuum head has an inlet adjacent to said cleaning element.