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  Combined cleaning sponge and sponge holderUSPTO Application #: 20070186365Title: Combined cleaning sponge and sponge holder Abstract: A disposable cleaning head and adapter therefor are positioned in a receptacle of predetermined cross-section at the forward end of a handle, the adapter converting the receptacle for use with cleaning heads having a different mounting cross-section. The cleaning head includes a base member of predetermined cross-section and configured for removable fitment in the converted receptacle, a cleaning member, and a holder for connecting the cleaning member to the base. Various cleaning heads are disclosed, one wherein a plurality of sponge-like cleaning strips radiate outwardly from the holder and form a ball, much like a sunburst, with the holder being fixed or mounted in a ball-joint socket relation to permit the “sunburst” to rotate relative to the base, another wherein a sponge like element is mounted to or removably interengaged with the holder, such as via piercing or complementary retention structure operating between the sponge element and the holder. (end of abstract) Agent: The Weintraub Group, P.L.C - Farmington Hills, MI, US Inventor: John W. Armaly USPTO Applicaton #: 20070186365 - Class: 015244100 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Brushing, Scrubbing, And General Cleaning, Implements, Sponge Or Sponge With Holder The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070186365. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/739,559, filed on Nov. 23, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all that is taught and disclosed therein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention pertains to a disposable cleaning head and adapter therefor that are positioned in a receptacle at the forward end of a handle, the cleaning head adapted for cleaning without scratching plated and painted surfaces of a vehicle, such as the wheel cover and the front grille. More particularly, this invention pertains to a cleaning head comprised of sponge-like cleaning elements affixed to a holder that is mountable in detachable fashion in the receptacle, wherein the cleaning head is held in frictional closure with and rotates relative to the adapter or is locked in place. [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0005] A cleaning head for use with a handle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. US-D496,138, issued Sep. 14, 2004, and a handle for use with a disposable cleaning head is disclosed in US-D496,512, issued Sep. 21, 2004, and Patent Publication 2004/0129296, published Jul. 8, 2004, the disclosures of each of these patent documents being specifically incorporated herein by reference. [0006] In general, the cleaning apparatus of the above patent documents comprises a cleaning head and a handle apparatus. The cleaning head comprises a cylindrical bundle of axial bristles arranged within a receiving sleeve detachably mountable to an end portion of the handle apparatus under friction closure. The handle apparatus includes an elongated handle including the cylindrical end portion for detachably mounting the cleaning head, and actuation means operably coupled to the handle and including a plunger, wherein actuation of the plunger ejects the cleaning head from the end portion. [0007] The cleaning head is particularly used for cleaning a toilet bowl and is discharged into the toilet bowl when the useful life is exhausted. The cleaning head, while believed suitable for the use in cleaning toilet bowls, has a bristle construction which may not be appropriate in cleaning other surfaces. [0008] Present day automobile wheels are often constructed with attractive designs to generate customer appeal. Customer demand is such that many different styles and configurations of wheels are necessary to meet the diverse taste of customers. [0009] There has developed a very lucrative market for both OEM and aftermarket wheels constructed with numerous different styles of spoke and aperture configurations combined to present an eye pleasing design. Many of these wheels incorporate attractive finishes, which may be constructed of expensive metal platings and the like. Such finishes often require a great degree of care in order to maintain a clean attractive appearance. This demand leads to a challenge for the automobile owner in keeping the wheels clean. During operation of the car, both the wheel and various component parts thereof and the vehicle trim may become covered with grease and other dirt, which detracts from the appearance of the automobile. [0010] What adds to the challenge of effective wheel cleaning is the fact that popular wheel designs often incorporate recesses, holes, crevices and spaces which have endless numbers of shapes, sizes and angles thus exhibiting a challenge to effective access by presently known cleaning brushes and pads. [0011] Commonly used tools, such as oversized sponges, long bristle brushes and sets of brushes with specific sizes and shapes have not provided a satisfactory solution to cleaning the dirt and grime without somehow degrading a surface finish. [0012] As an example, in many wheel designs, the depressions and openings therein are formed with radially inwardly turned peripheral lips which often collect dust and grime which is difficult to access with a typical sponge or brush. Those depressions and crevices often incorporate a triangular configuration such that a brush sized for ready access to the enlarged end of the triangle cannot be slid into the narrow end of the triangular crevice thus preventing access to the inturned peripheral lips for adequate cleaning thereof. [0013] Also, any effort to utilize a set of multiple brushes of different sizes and shapes is generally impractical. The expense of acquiring such sets of brushes and the challenge of having the properly sized brush readily available at the time it is needed renders the overall proposition quite unsatisfactory. [0014] Inability of the cleaning implement to reach awkward places often results in dirt, grime and dust being left on the vehicle part after the cleaning task is completed, thus leaving an unsightly appearance. [0015] Various different proposals have been made for solving these various problems. As an example, Sellers U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,857 discloses a polishing tool having an elongated stem mounting on one side a series of tufts of brush bristles and on the other side a layer of sponge-like material configured in a V-shape for accessing specifically shaped crevices and depressions. [0016] In recognition of the need for a device for cleaning lug nut wells, Gronkiewicz U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,686 discloses a generally tubular shaped sponge configured to be received telescopically within the lug nut well. Large U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,526 discloses a resilient pad fixedly attached to a handle with the pad formed by cylindrical segments stepped down in transverse cross-section toward the forward end of the handle. [0017] Such devices, while satisfactory for certain applications, have limited utility and have not been broadly accepted in the marketplace. [0018] Consequently, there exists a need for a wheel cleaning tool for accessing wheel indentations and apertures having different shapes, sizes and configurations and which accommodates wide ranges of such configurations. It is preferable if the cleaning task could be undertaken without subjecting the finish of the wheel to harsh rigid surfaces which might result in dragging grit over the finish resulting in scratching thereof. [0019] It is to be appreciated that there is a need for a cleaning head and holder which may be detachably connected to a handle, and configured to enable the user to clean recesses and surface indentations such as defined by wheel covers, trim, and other surfaces of an area. [0020] An object of this invention is the provision of improved cleaning apparatus having a shaped handle with ejection plunger and swiveling cleaning head that will enable the user to gain access to hard to reach locations and yet apply cleaning force as needed without damaging the vehicle surface being cleaned. [0021] Another object of this invention is the provision of a disposable cleaning head and adapter therefore which enables the cleaning head to be easily mounted to a handle and ejected from the handle and disposed of when the useful life of the cleaning head is reached. [0022] Another object is the provision of a cleaning head, having different construction and different cleaning elements, and an adapter, enabling different types of cleaning heads to be demountably attached to a receptacle at the end of an elongated handle, thereby enabling the cleaning tool available and the work to be performed to be customized. Continue reading... Full patent description for Combined cleaning sponge and sponge holder Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Combined cleaning sponge and sponge holder patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Combined cleaning sponge and sponge holder or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Toothbrush Next Patent Application: Windshield wiper and scraper Industry Class: Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Combined cleaning sponge and sponge holder patent info. 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