Coating implements with material supply – Brush – broom – or mop – With flow-regulator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-14
2001-09-11
Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Brush, broom, or mop
With flow-regulator
C401S270000, C401S279000, C401S278000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287037
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to hand-held cleaning devices and, in particular, to such devices which carry and dispense cleaning fluid.
Prior soap-dispensing cleaning devices are known which include a housing defining a soap-containing reservoir, a bottom wall of the housing carrying a cleaning medium, such as a sponge, brush or the like, the reservoir being closed by a cap. A valve assembly dispenses fluid from the reservoir to the cleaning medium. One such device is disclosed in EP-A-0198 389. Here, there is provided at the base of the housing a valve assembly having a lower opening defining a value seat, and a thin valve stem protruding downwardly through the opening. As the user presses the bottom of the device against an object to be cleaned the valve stem is forced upwardly against the action of a resilient support, allowing the soap to drain from the reservoir.
One problem with this structure is that the device is prone to leakage both at the position of the valve and at the screw cap.
The invention seeks to provide an improved fluid-containing cleaning device which avoids the disadvantages of prior such devices while affording additional structural and operating advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to tho present invention there is provided a hand-held cleaning device comprising a housing constituting a reservoir for cleaning fluid and carrying cleaning means for contacting an object or surface to be cleaned, a lower aperture through which cleaning fluid may pass closed by valve means which are operable by a user, an upper opening through which cleaning fluid may be introduced, and a removable cap closing the upper opening formed of resilient material and adapted to provide a fluid-tight seal with the housing, the cap having a portion which is deformable by a user, a part of the valve means extending to said portion whereby a user can operate the valve means on deformation of the said portion.
This arrangement allows both the sealing function and the external user actuation of the valve to be readily achieved, resulting in a device of particularly simple yet effective construction.
In a preferred embodiment the housing has a sidewall which is provided in the region of its upper end with an outwardly extending circumferential lip, whilst the cap has on its underside a circumferential groove into which the lip fits. The diameter of the lip is preferably slightly larger than the diameter of the groove whereby when fitted the cap is in tension so that a tight seal is formed therebetween.
The housing may further define at its uppermost end a neck of reduced diameter defining the upper opening which is formed with a circumferential bead, whilst the cap defines an annular surface which engages the neck with the bead thereof tightly fitting against this annular surface.
Preferably, the valve means comprises a valve stem which extends through the housing to the cap having an end portion which lies adjacent an inner surface of the deformable portion of the cap. The valve means includes a valve member arranged on an end of the valve stem which sits in a valve seat, the valve stem being biased by resilient means towards cap so that the valve member engages in the valve seat.
The inner surface of the cap may further comprise a cylindrical skirt portion depending from the cap in which an end portion of the valve stem is received. The cap may also have a groove in its outer surface defining the deformable button portion.
The cap is preferably formed of a natural or synthetic rubber or an elastomeric material.
REFERENCES:
patent: 825448 (1906-07-01), Farron
patent: 1087919 (1914-02-01), Buckley
patent: 1425242 (1922-08-01), Dinardo
patent: 1505442 (1924-08-01), Stephens
patent: 1865850 (1932-07-01), Garvey
patent: 4298778 (1981-11-01), Beresford-Jones
patent: 4955746 (1990-09-01), Craigmile
patent: 323242 (1920-07-01), None
Hayco Manufacturing Ltd.
Taylor Reese
Walczak David J.
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