Cleaning apparatus with flexible connection between head and handle

Abstract

An improved cleaning tool is provided with a flexible connection between the head or spindle and the handle. The improved tool broadly includes a spindle or head, a handle and a flexible connection between the head and handle to permit relative pivotal movement therebetween and rubber bumpers to protect against scratching furniture. The flexible connection regulates relative movement between the spindle head in such a way that lateral movement is greater than the up and down movement.

1 . A cleaning apparatus comprising: 
 a handle;    a head coupled to the handle;    a spindle carried by the head;    at least one cleaning element carried on the spindle; and    the head including a flexible portion for permitting more movement of the handle relative to the spindle in a first direction then in a substantially perpendicular second direction.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the flexible portion is carried in an arm of the head.    
   
   
       4 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the handle and the spindle define a first plane, the flexible portion permitting more movement of the handle relative to the spindle in the first plane than in a second mutually exclusive, angularly disposed plane.    
   
   
       5 . The cleaning apparatus of claim  3 - 4 , wherein the flexible portion comprises: 
 a plurality of alternating inverted folds integrally extending along the arm.    
   
   
       6 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . The cleaning apparatus of claim  11 , wherein: the spindle has a circular cross-section.  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the handle is releasably connected to the head.    
   
   
       15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 resilient material carried on the handle.    
   
   
       17 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 resilient material carried on the head.    
   
   
       18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the head comprises an upper arm to which the handle is coupled and an attached side arm by which said spindle is supported.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the side arm includes said flexible portion.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further including a reinforcing member having one end fixed in the upper arm and the other end projecting laterally inwardly from said side arm and received in said spindle.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said other end of said reinforcing member projects laterally inwardly from the side arm in a direction that is parallel to the upper arm.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further including a shaft coupled to the upper arm for releasably connecting the handle to the head.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spindle includes a cartridge having first and second ends joined by a plurality of longitudinally extending strips.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the spindle has first and second end caps with one of said end caps having an opening through which said other end of said reinforcing member extends.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the spindle has an interior bearing member for rotatably receiving said second end of said reinforcing member.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spindle is capable of bi-directional rotation.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said cleaning element is mounted on the cartridge.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the spindle rotates about an axis that is parallel to said upper arm.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said side arm includes a first upper portion and a second lower portion, said flexible portion disposed between said first and second portions.