Flexible handle for cleaning tools
OwnerKevin Alan Tussyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A handle for a cleaning tool such as a floor mop comprising at least two handle segments attached to each other by a flexible connector such that the handle has one configuration in which it is rigid and another configuration in which it is flexible. In one exemplary embodiment, a movable rigid sleeve extends over the entire flexible connector and a portion of each handle segment such that it prevents the flexible connector from bending. When the movable rigid sleeve is moved to a position where it does not extend over the flexible connector, the flexible connector can bend relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle, to allow easy access under cabinets or furniture.
Claims20
A handle for a cleaning tool comprising:
- at least two handle segments and a flexible connector, the at least two handle segments including an upper handle segment and a lower handle segment, the upper handle segment including at least one raised surface, the flexible connector connecting the upper handle segment to the lower handle segment, and the flexible connector being configured with one or more joints that provide lateral rigidity;
- and
- a movable rigid sleeve configured to extend over the entire flexible connector and a portion of each handle segment such that it prevents the flexible connector from bending, the sleeve including a top flared end and a bottom end;
- the movable rigid sleeve being configured to slide into an upward position in which (i) the movable rigid sleeve is in frictional contact with the at least one raised surface, the frictional contact maintaining the position of the sleeve in the upward position, and (ii) the sleeve does not extend over the flexible connector, allowing the flexible connector to bend relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle.
A handle for a cleaning tool comprising:
- at least two handle segments and a flexible connector, the flexible connector connecting a first handle segment of the at least two handle segments to a second handle segment of the at least two handle segments, and the flexible connector comprising one or more joints that provide lateral rigidity;
- and
- a movable rigid rod having a diameter that is greater than one-half of the diameter of an inner area of the flexible connector, the rod being configured to extend through the flexible connector and into a portion of each handle segment such that it prevents the flexible connector from bending, and being configured to slide to a position where it does not extend completely through the flexible connector, allowing the flexible connector to bend relative to a longitudinal axis of the handle.
A handle for a cleaning tool comprising:
- a first handle segment having a first end and a second end;
- a second handle segment having a first end and a second end, the second end of the second handle configured to connect to the cleaning tool;
- a flexible connector having a first end and a second end;
- at least one upper spring biased detent configured to connect the second end of the first handle to the first end of the flexible connector;
- at least one lower spring biased detent configured to connect the first end of the second handle to the second end of the flexible connector;
- and
- a sleeve having a flared first sleeve end and a second sleeve end, the at least one lower spring biased detent and the second sleeve end configured to stop the sleeve from moving below the at least one lower spring biased detent toward the cleaning tool, such that the sleeve is configured to be in:
- a lower position that covers the flexible connector to inhibit bending of the flexible connector, and
- an upper position that places the sleeve in frictional engagement with the at least one upper spring biased detent to hold the sleeve in the upper position thereby allowing bending of the flexible connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.