# US 2014/0150202 A1 · Upward and radial floor cleaning apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150202 A1 - Document ID: US20140150202A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/172,828 - Filed: 2014-02-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-06 - Inventors: Thomas K. Schultheis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150202A1 ## CPC - A47L 9/0673: {with removable brushes, combs, lips or pads} - A46B 7/042: {Clip or snap connection for bristle carriers} - A46B 7/044: {Sliding connections for bristle carriers} - A47L 9/062: {Rigidly anchored edge brushes} - A47L 11/4036: {Parts or details of the surface treating tools} - A47L 13/12: Implements with several different treating devices - A46B 5/0012: {Brushes with two or more heads on the same end of a handle for simultaneous use, e.g. cooperating with each-other} - A46B 2200/302: Broom - A46B 2200/3026: Dusting brush - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) ## Abstract A cleaning apparatus includes a handle for holding; a head; a downward facing cleaning element on the head for downward facing cleaning of a surface; and an upward and radial cleaning element about the head of the apparatus. The cleaning element includes at least a brush element for cleaning, the brush element having a substantially upstanding central portion for upward cleaning and radially outwardly projecting side portions for radial cleaning. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cleaning apparatus comprising: a handle for holding; a head attached to the handle; a downward facing cleaning element on the head for downward facing cleaning of a floor surface; and an upward and radial cleaning element extending from the head comprising at east a brush element for cleaning, and having; a substantially upstanding central portion for upward cleaning; and radially outwardly projecting side portions for radial cleaning wherein at least the central portion of or a whole of the cleaning element, is removably attachable to the head. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the up card and radial cleaning element is forwardly angled from the head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the upward and radial cleaning element is fan-shaped. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the upward and radial cleaning element has a continuous horizon. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the radially outwardly projecting side portions of the upward and radial cleaning element are downwardly curved substantially to 90 degrees. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the upward and radial cleaning element comprises flexible bristles, whereby a portion of the upward and radial cleaning element can be drastically displaced without substantially affecting a cleaning capacity of a remaining portion of the upward and radial cleaning element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the upward and radial cleaning element further comprises a stabilizing member about a lower portion of the upward and radial cleaning element, for stabilizing the brush element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the upward and radial cleaning element is multi-angulated, the brush element radiating in a plurality of directions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the brush element is substantially spheroidal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the upward and radial cleaning element is radially dimensioned for dramatic radial cleaning of an extraneous adjacent surface, thus facilitating engaging and cleaning of a surface which the head of the apparatus is blocked from directly engaging by at least 2 inches. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a movement selecting system adapted to rotate the upward and radial cleaning element in a direction directed by a user, at least one of a portion or a whole of the upward and radial cleaning element selectably movable by a user responsive to a movement selecting element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the movement selecting element is located on the handle of the apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the upward and radial cleaning element comprises: a flexible spine; and the brush element extending therefrom. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 13 further comprising: a hold and curve system for the apparatus, said hold and curve system configured to: hold down the flexible spine of the cleaning element, the brush element thus extending therefrom, and downwardly curve lateral ends of the flexible spine, the cleaning element thus having radially outwardly projecting side portions, outwardly projecting from the curved lateral ends of the spine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the hold and curve system is a receiving channel, the receiving channel configured to receive and hold the flexible spine of the cleaning element removably, said receiving channel comprising: a receiving portion for receiving the spine; a constraining element for constraining the spine; and downwardly curved side portions for downwardly curving the lateral ends of the flexible spine, forming the radially outwardly projecting side portions of the upward and radial cleaning element for radial cleaning. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein there is provided a substantially central gap in the receiving channel through which opposite ends of the flexible spine may be inserted into the receiving channel, the upward and radial cleaning element thus being removably attachable through the gap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the flexible spine of the upward and radial cleaning element is configured for flexibility, the receiving channel is configured so that the cleaning element resiliently snaps into place when inserted into the gap. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the upward and radial cleaning element further comprises: a rigid, or substantially rigid, spine from which the brush element extends, the rigid, or substantially rigid, spine having downwardly curved, or curvable, lateral ends, thus facilitating radial outward projection of the brush element from the lateral ends of the spine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 18 further comprising a brush clip for receiving and constraining the spine. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the brush clip includes an upper channel for receiving the spine. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the upper channel of the brush clip comprises a front wall, a rear wall, and an upper channel base. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein the brush clip includes relieved portions at the lateral ends, the upper channel base terminating at the relieved portions to accommodate curved side portions of the spine. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the upward and radial cleaning element is colorized. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a base; at least the central portion or a whole of the upward and radial cleaning element extending from the base forming a utility tool; an attachment mechanism configured for removably attaching the base to a head of a cleaning apparatus for upward and radial cleaning, the cleaning apparatus thus being configured for simultaneous downward cleaning of a surface with a downward facing cleaning element, and upward and radial cleaning in a same movement, the base and the utility tool being removable for independent use by a user as a separate handheld cleaning tool. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a placement cavity on the head of the cleaning apparatus, said cavity configured to receive the base of the utility tool. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein the placement cavity is forwardly angled, so that the upward and radial cleaning element is forwardly angled from the head of the apparatus when the utility tool is attached via the cavity. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the the base comprises a brush dip. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 24 further comprising a plurality of cavities about the base, the upward and radial cleaning element comprising bristles embedded into said cavities, said cavities configured for substantially upright outward projection of the bristles from a central portion of the base, and radially angled outward projection of the bristles at the side portions of the base, thus configured for upward and radial cleaning. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein the cavities radiate in a plurality of directions, the bristles extending in a plurality of directions. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the upward and radial cleaning element and the base of the utility tool are integrally formed as one piece of a synthetic material. ### Claim 31 (depends on 24) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the utility tool further comprises at least one of: multiple attachment points; an attachment point configured for attachment to a plurality of surfaces. ### Claim 32 (depends on 24) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 24 further comprising a grip for the base, said grip configured specifically for gripping by a user, the grip comprising at least one of; a surface for added grip; a shaped surface, shaped specifically to aid handling by a user; at least one recessed portion, configured to fit a hand of a user for added grip. ### Claim 33 (depends on 24) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 24 further comprising a plurality of attachment flanges on the head of the cleaning apparatus for mating with a bottom aperture of the base, said attachment flanges configured for alternate angulation of the upward and radial cleaning element. ### Claim 34 (depends on 24) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the base is selected from the set of molded plastic, extruded plastic and extruded metal. ### Claim 35 (depends on 24) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a bracket attached to the head. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) A cleaning apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the upward and radial cleaning element further comprises a base plate from which at least the central portion of the brush element extends. ### Claim 37 A canister vacuum cleaning apparatus, comprising: a canister; a suction system within the canister for generating suction; a wand handle attached to the canister, a wand head attached to the wand handle; a downward facing suction element on a bottom side of the wand head for suction cleaning of a surface; and an upward and radial cleaning element comprising: a substantially upstanding central portion for upward cleaning; and radially outwardly projecting side portions for radial cleaning, the upward and radial cleaning element attached, or attachable, substantially upstandingly to the wand head, thereby providing upward and radially extending cleaning of a surface, while simultaneously downwardly cleaning via the downward facing suction element, in a same movement.