Cleaning implement having a visual indicator for determining debris removal effectiveness and end of useful life

Abstract

A visual indicator for the cleaning effectiveness and end of useful life of a cleaning implement, e.g., a fabric sweeper, for removing dust, dirt, pet hair and other debris present on a fabric surface. The implement comprises a housing and a pair of fabric-covered rollers. During a cleaning operation, the implement is swept over the surface to be cleaned. Debris is retained by the fabric on the rollers and transported to a collection chamber by the opposing roller. The fabric covering the rollers is a unidirectional fabric such as velour with a light color such as light blue. The light color provides an indication of cleaning effectiveness since the hair and debris loaded on the rollers contrasts with the light color and therefore can easily be quantified. The light color further aids in determining when the rollers have become too dirty such that the implement should be disposed and a new implement used.

1 . An indicator for detecting cleanliness of at least one surface-contacting part in a cleaning implement, the indicator comprising: 
 a selected fabric material;    wherein the material discolors upon exposure to particulate debris; and    wherein the discoloration is discernible by visual inspection.    
   
   
       2 . The indicator of  claim 1 , wherein the selected material comprises a color that contrasts with an expected color of particulate build up such that a colorimetric indication occurs when the particulate build up exceeds a threshold.  
   
   
       3 . The indicator of  claim 2 , wherein the color of the material is one or more colors selected from a group consisting of light blue, white, gray, yellow, pink, and orange, having a hue within a range of about 8- 340 °, a saturation within a range of 0-100% and a brightness within a range of about 28-100%.  
   
   
       4 . An indicator for demonstrating particulate debris removal of a cleaning implement, the indicator comprising: 
 a selected fabric material having a selected light color affixed to at least one surface-contacting part of the cleaning implement;    wherein the material picks up and retains particulate debris during a cleaning operation; and wherein the retained debris contrasts with the light color fabric material so as to be discernible upon visual inspection;    
   
   
       5 . The indicator of  claim 4 , wherein an amount of the particulate debris on the material provides an indication of the effectiveness of the cleaning implement.  
   
   
       6 . The indicator of  claim 4 , wherein the color of the material is light blue.  
   
   
       7 . The indicator of  claim 4 , wherein the color of the material is one or more colors selected from a group consisting of white, gray, yellow, pink, and orange.  
   
   
       8 . The indicator of  claim 4 , wherein the color of the material comprises a hue within the range of about 8-340°, a saturation within the range of 0-100% and a brightness within the range of about 28-100%.  
   
   
       9 . The indicator of  claim 8 , wherein the hue is within the range of about 40-306°, the saturation is within the range of about 4-67% and the brightness is within the range of about 55-98%.  
   
   
       10 . The indicator of  claim 9 , wherein the hue is within the range of about 172-224° the saturation is within the range of about 8-50% and the brightness is within the range of about 76-95%.  
   
   
       11 . The indicator of  claim 9 , wherein the hue is within the range of about 54-71°, the saturation is within the range of about 8-50% and the brightness is within the range of about 76-95%.  
   
   
       12 . The indicator of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a collection chamber; and    a clear housing covering the collection chamber;    wherein the clear housing enables a user to see an amount of particulate debris retained in the collection chamber.    
   
   
       13 . A method for detecting debris removal effectiveness of a cleaning implement, the method comprising: 
 providing a visual use indicator comprising a selected material having a selected characteristic;    providing a cleaning implement, wherein the cleaning implement is partially comprised of the selected material such that, during a cleaning operation, at least a portion of the selected material comes in contact with a surface to be cleaned;    using the cleaning implement in a cleaning operation; and    visually inspecting the use indicator material.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of: 
 determining the end-of-life of the cleaning implement based on the color of the use indicator material.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of: 
 determining the debris removal effectiveness of the cleaning implement based on the appearance of debris retained on the use indicator material.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selected material is a fabric.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the fabric is velour.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selected characteristic is a color.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the color is selected from at least one of: light blue, gray, white, and off-white.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cleaning implement is a fabric sweeper; and wherein the selected material is affixed to rockers of the fabric sweeper.