US3214779A - Bathtub cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 2, 1965 G. c. WHEELER BATHTUB CLEANING DEVICE Filed April 27, 1964 INVENTOR Geozye C Wee/e1? United States Patent Office 3,214,779 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 3,214,779 BATHTUB CLEANING DEVICE George C. Wheeler, 27226 Clifton Ave., Highland, Calif. Filed Apr. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 362,909 1 Claim. (Cl. -244) This invention relates to a device used in the sanitation art, and more particularly to a device used to clean out bathtubs and the like.

Until the event of this invention, bathtubs have nearly always been cleaned out with either a brush or cloth. Neither is really satisfactory as the brush will more often than not scratch the surface of the tube as well as being unable to elfectively clean out its corners, and the cloth requires an entirely unnecessary amount of hard labor that is also time consuming.

It is therefore the main object of this invention to provide a bathtub cleaning device that not only effectively cleans the bathtub, but is also a device that can be used from the standing position, thereby decreasing the amount of labor for this necessary work.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bathtub cleaning device that will automatically adjust itself for the cleaning of the corners of the bathtub.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bathtub cleaning device that will effectively clean the tub without scratching its surface no matter how much pressure is applied to the handle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bathtub cleaning device that has a replaceable cleaning pad that can be changed in an instant.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bathtube cleaning device that itself can be thoroughly cleaned in a minimum of time and with a mini-mum of effort.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bathtub cleaning device that has a minimum of parts, none of which is complicated, and all of which can be replaced by anyone without the requirement of any mechanical skill whatsoever.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawing merely shows and the following description merely describes one embodirnent of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial view of this invention wherein the major portion of the handle is not shown for reasons of space.

FIGURE 2 is a reduced sectional view of this invention taken along line 22 of FIGURE 4 viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a reduced end view of this invention with the lower part of the handle being shown.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of this invention taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of a typical bathtub with this invention of a cleaning device being shown in two separate cleaning positions.

The device of this invention, as illustrated in the drawing consists of a substantially rectangular rubber sponge 1t) having each end upwardly inclined from the bottom, and to the upper surface of which is secured a pair of longitudinally located resilient members or stays 11 of any suitable spring material such as spring steel and that are substantially parallel to each other and on top of which is centrally located in the longitudinal plane a rectangular base 12 having its periphery 13 upturned to form an edge. The substantially rectangular sponge 10, elongated resilient members 11, and rectangular base 12 are secured together in any suitable way such as by a good grade of waterproof glue. A metal ball 14 is centrally located in and secured to the aforesaid rectangular base 12. The ball 14 provides adjustable support for the handle 15 by means of a two-piece fitting 16 that encompasses in part the aforesaid metal ball 14. Each half of the just mentioned two-piece fitting 16 has its lower end contoured to the aforesaid metal ball 14 while the upper end of each half of the same fitting is contoured to the external surface of the handle 15 to which it is secured by a pair of screws 17 having wing nut 18 on the lower screw thereof, there-by providing an easy means of tightening the handle 15 to the entire bathtub cleaning device which is herein characterized for the first time by the reference numeral 19.

The aforesaid substantially rectangular rubber sponge 10 may have its corners cut at the angle shown in FIG URE 2 of the drawing. The handle 15 may be of any desired length.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that this most novel bathtub cleaning device will adapt itself to cleaning any and all parts of a bathtub, one of which is shown in cross-section in FIGURE 5 of the drawing Where one can understand and see how the rubber sponge 10 will blend itself into the contour of the bathtub, since the rubber sponge is a resilient member that is preferably substantially rectangular in cross-section as shown in FIG- URE 4 of the drawing. It is noted that the pair of longitudinally located resilient members or stays 11, normally assist in keeping the rubber sponge 10 fiat. In this condition the device can be used for cleaning relatively fiat surfaces as indicated at the left of FIGURE 5. However these stays 11 permit the sponge to bend and conform to the shape of a curved surface as indicated at the right of FIGURE 5. The stays 11 also assist in returning the rubber sponge 10 to its flat state as soon as the pressure is relieved. The degree of the movement of the substantially rectangular rubber sponge 10 is controlled by the tightness of the aforesaid wing nut 18 acting on the spring washer 20 that has been placed on the screw 17 as one can see on examining FIGURE 4 of the drawing.

One can now understand that a person cleaning a bathtub with this novel device can quickly and efiiciently perform the entire cleaning operation by standing up, which is far more comfortable than kneeling as is necessary When the cleaning is done with either a brush or cloth. After the bathtub is cleaned with this device, one has only to wash out the rubber sponge 10 in the usual manner and the device is again ready for cleaning out a bathtub. The bathtub is characterized by the reference numeral 21 in FIGURE 5 of the drawing.

Changes may be made in the detail construction of this novel invention as well as in the material and still keep the same within the scope of the appended claim.

Having now described my invention of a bathtub cleaning device, what I now claim as new is:

A bathtub cleaning device of the character described, comprising a substantially rectangular rubber sponge having a pair of relatively narrow, parallel resilient members secured to the upper surface of the sponge and extending longitudinally thereof, and on top of said sponge and members is centrally located longitudinally and secured thereto a rectangular base of smaller outline than said sponge and having its periphery upturned, the resilent members extending outwardly of the base, a centrally located metal ball secured to the upper surface of the said rectangular base, and a two-piece fitting having its lower end contoured to and embracing the said metal ball, while the upper end of the said two-piece fitting is contoured to 3 and embraces the external surface of a handle to which it is secured by two spaced screws, one of which is provided with a spring washer and a wing nut as a means of adjusting universally the said handle, which is of suflicient length as to allow one to clean a bathtub with this said device while in a standing position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 2,678,458 5/54 Vosbikian et al. 1;-" 15244.0 X 2,698,955 1/55 Trindl 15-12'1 X 2,764,774 10/56 Belsky et al. 15144.1 X 2,794,997 6/57 Channel 15119.1 2,877,478 3/59 Kohlwey et al. 15119.1 3,041,651 7/62 Jardine 15-244 3,090,985 5/63 Baum 15244 FOREIGN PATENTS 613,918 9/26 France. 506,790 9/56 Italy.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Examiner.

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