ACCESSORY FOR CLOTH APPLICATOR

Field of the invention

[0001] THIS INVENTION relates to an accessory for a cloth applicator of the type used to apply cleaning liquids or the like and in particular but not limited to a cloth keeper used in combination with a cleaning cloth and container of cleaning liquid.

Background

[0002] Cleaning, polishing and other similar treatments often involve application of an active agent held in container, the container being stored away between applications. Active agents are in spray applied liquids, wipe on gels, powders and so on. Cloth is often used to apply or wipe a surface during a treatment. Sometimes the cloth is disposed of after a single use but on most occasions cloths are used over and over again. Households usually have different cleaning agents for different purposes. For example, one agent is typically used for windows, another for timber and still another for bathroom tiles. Where different cleaning agents are use the householder frequently has a cloth for each. Under present arrangements it is easy to lose track of which cloth was used with which agent during the previous application. Sometimes cloths are misplaced altogether. Cloths are often stored together in a bundle and this adds to the confusion as to which cloth is appropriate. Also different people in a household may use the cleaning agents at different times making cloth selection even more difficult This whole situation is inconvenient

[0003] The following documents were cited in the Internationa! Type Search report conducted by the Australian Patent Office on the search statement submitted with the searc request in respect of the applicant's Australian provisional patent application No. 2004906478.

DE297G8202U1 (CHEN); FR2746375A1 (CANAVESE et al.); JPH08258845A (HIROHAIV1A); WQ0166418 (LEE); WO04026733 (BLANCHESTER); and WO094Q649G (BAHR). According to the International Type Search report none of these "disclose accessories for containers for holding cloths", but according to the report "disclose accessories which are suitable for use with containers and are capable of holding cloths". T:

[0004] CHEN describes a cap and handle for a sports drink bottle. The cap fits over and closes the spout of the drink bottle. The cap has a tab a finger ring. The cap and its ring must be separated from the bottle to dispense the contents of the drink bottle. The ring could hold a cloth but the cap has to be removed to dispense the contents so the cap could be lost.

[0005] CANAVESE et al. describes wine bottle stopper holder. It has a large ring with a smaller c-shaped projection, the large ring slides axialiy over the neck of a wine bottie. The large ring has an inner foam surface. The c-shaped projection permits the bottle stopper to be clipped to the bottle when uncorked. The c-shaped projection could hold a cloth. The opening in the C-shaped projection would make this unreliable in holding a cloth.

[0006] HiROHAIVIA describes a flexible spout for a threaded screw top oil container. The spout is secured by being fitted into a threaded open topped cap which substitutes for the oil container cap. A matching flexible projection on the spout body seals against the open topped cap and a circular locking cap which slides down over the spout and the locking cap axsaily clips onto a circular groove on the open topped cap. The locking cap clamps the projection. The locking cap has a horizontal extending ring tab that could hold a small cloth. As for LEE below the ring appears to be too small to reliably hold a cleaning cloth.

[0007] LEE describes a spout for a beverage can, the can has a cap C with a finger grip C5 used to enable a user to pul the cap off. The ring C5 could hold a cloth although it is doubtful that it could reliably hold a cleaning cloth.

[0008] BLANCHESTER describes a carrying device for a bottie. The carrying device has a ring and a hook. These are the same size and fold over one another so their axes are aligned. The device is retained about the neck of a bottle by the bottie cap preventing the ring from sliding off. The hook section folds over the bottie aligned with the centre of the cap and prior to use is retained on the bottle in this folded position and the hook is pulled out to be used as a handle. The hook when in it's pulled out position could hold a cloth although it is doubtful that it could reliably hold a cleaning cloth. T:

[0009] BAHR relates to ^' medical equipment and describes a disposable stand for infusion sets, C-shaped side support brackets fit on a rod like stand and hold variously an infusion bag and tubes. It is not clear how this applies to the present invention,

[0010] The following documents were cited during examination of the Applicant's corresponding New Zealand patent application No. 630927, US664011B1 (BENSUSSA et al.); US3299442 (WHITE et aL); and US5960973 ( ARKSON)

[0011] BENSUSSAN et al. describes a spray bottle holder assembly for use with a bottle, a hose and a spray pump or trigger. The holder assembly has a threaded cap to replace the threaded cap of a bottie and be retained on the bottle when the bottie screw top is replaced by the holder assembly. The holder is a quite complex unit with various functions one of which in Figure 9 is a ring used to hold a rag. Importantly, the contents of the container passes through the threaded cap of the holder assembly.

[0012] WHITE et al. describes a bottle with a hanger support for medical use. It includes a handle with a finger opening so the bottle may be carried. The finger opening couid be used to store a cloth although it is doubtful that it could reliably hold a cleaning cloth.

[0013] MARKSON describes clip to retain a snake pack to a beverage container. In one embodiment as applied to a drink bottle a scalloped ring fits over the bottle neck and a tab hangs down beside the bottie, the tab has clip device and the snack pack is secured by it to hang down along the side of the drink bottle. A cloth could be secured in place of the snack pack.

[0014] As demonstrated by this prior art the art of devices to hold all manner of things which without modification could be used to hold a rag or cleaning cloth are readily available and have been known but these are either too complex BENSUSSAN et al or have not received ready acceptance in the dual use capability envisaged in the International Type Search Report notwithstanding that in hindsight they couid be used to hold a cloth it is doubtful that they would be considered a cloth keepers for the present purpose. T:

[0015] Consequently, there is a need for a simple solution to this age old problem. It is an object of the present invention to provide an accessory for a cloth type applicator so that the cloth type applicator may be conveniently stored with its corresponding agent.

Outline

[0016] In one broad form therefore the present invention resides in An accessory for a container holding an agent to be applied with a cloth type applicator, the container having a dispenser portion, the accessory having a cloth keeper to hold a cloth with the container while the container is in storage and permit removal of the cloth from the keeper so that the cloth may be used to apply the agent and then returned to the keeper, the keeper being adapted to fit the container without altering the operation of the dispenser portion.

[0017] In another aspect the invention resides in the combination of a container holding agent to be applied with a cloth type applicator, the container having a cloth keeper adapted to hold the cloth with the container while the container is in storage.

[0018] The container is typically any one of the common containers used in households for holding of liquids, gels, slurries and powders. Examples are pump action spray containers, aerosol containers and cans containing polish and so on.

[0019] The cloth type applicator may be a special purpose cleaning cloth or simply a rag adapted to the purpose in the usual way.

[0020] The keeper may be any means that enables the applicator to be positively retained with the container so that it may not be inadvertently separated from the container. The keeper may have hooks , loops, clips, rings, clamps or other means that may be used in order to achieve this objective. However, it is preferable that the keeper be a simple fastener free arrangement where the cloth may be held without the need of any s ecialised fastener. To this end the keeper preferably comprises at least one eyelet through which a cloth may be fed, the eyelet being so sized and dimensioned that the cloth may be manually drawn through the eyelet and thereby gathered by its progressivel increasing bulk In the eyelet as it is pulled through to be wedged in T: the eyelet in a storage position and if needed the cloth may be released by pulling in the opposite direction.

[0021] The keeper may be formed integrally with the container, the container lid or it may be a separate device attached to the container later. Preferably, the keeper is a separate part securable to the container. Preferably, the keeper has a manual push on attachment that resiiiently deforms and clips about part of tne container. In another version the keeper is retained in place by the container lid.

[0022] The keeper is preferably adjustable in its position on the container. For example where the container includes triggers or other manually operable means for application of the agent it is preferable that the keeper be attached to the container so that its position may be adjusted for right handed or left handed use or to ensure that any mechanical parts of the container are still workable with the keeper in place. In a specially preferred form the keeper comprises an eyelet and a C shaped clip so that the keeper may be clipped around the neck of a bottle.

[0023] Typically, the accessory is one of a set of three adapted to fit bottles and there being a small size suited to the trigger type bottles, a large size suited to large spray cans and a size between the small and large suited to the smaller cans.

[0024] Typically, the container is a spay container having a manually operable spray control, the accessory having a lower surface, the lower surface tapers from a wide can contact surface up to a narrow edge providing a comfortable region for a user's hand while holding and operating the spray container.

[0025] Typically, the accessory is separable from the container and has an automatic locating device to secure the accessory relative to the container.

[0028] Typically, the accessory is separable from the container and has an automatic locating device to secure the accessory relative to the container, the locating device comprising one or more slots spaced around and inner surface of the accessory and being adapted to be in register with an edge of the container. T:

[0027] Typically, the accessory is separable from the container and has an automatic locating device to secure the accessory relative to the container, the locating device being so made an arrange to automatically set the position of the keeper relative to operation of the container.

Brief description of the drawings

[0028] In order that the invention may be more readily understood and be put into practical effect reference wii now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a number of preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective drawing illustrating a pump action spray bottle fitted with a keeper in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective drawing illustrating a keeper of the type illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an embodiment simitar to the embodiments Figure 1 and 2 but in this case is of larger diameter so that it may clip about an aerosol can;

Figure 4 illustrates the use of a ring to stop the clip from sliding down on the can whereby in the embodiments of Figures 3 and 4 the clip is clipped above the ring;

Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment whereby the keeper is formed as a pivoting keeper as part of a lid of an aerosol container;

Figure 6 is a further embodiment whereby the keeper is in the shape of a figure 8 and is retained in place by the lid of the bottle;

Figure 7 is an arrangement whereby the keeper is formed integrally with the lid as a moulded plastics unit effectively operating in a similar fashion to the embodiment of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a magnetic keeper which is retained against a metal aerosol container by use of a magnet;

Figure 9 shows a set of keepers that may ty pically be employed in a household for different spray containers, there being a small, medium and a large size;

Figure 10 shows the large size being used on a larger sized spray can, the medium size being used on smaller spray cans;

Figure 11 shows the small size being used on a trigger type spray bottle; and

Figures 12 and 13 are part views showing the engagement of the small size keeper with the neck of the spray bottle. T:

Method of performance

[0029] Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated in combination a container which in this case is a pump action bottle 10 having a container body 11 and a lid 12 including a pump portion 13 a nozz!e 14 a trigger 15 and a neck section, shown generally at 18. A keeper 17 is clipped to the neck as illustrated by reason of resilient iegs 18, 19 which have a narrow entrance at 20 and an interna! spacing slightly less than the outside diameter of the neck 6. Thus in the usual way of clips of this kind it may be pushed onto the neck and snap into position as illustrated in Figure 1. The keeper 17 has a cylindrical eyelet 21 so that a rag 22 may be drawn from beiow through the eyelet and as the rag gathers it will wedge in position as illustrated in Figure 1. The rag may be easily removed simply by puling downward in the direction of arrow 23. It will be appreciated in this arrangement that the rag may be kept with the bottie when stored and this will provide a solution to the problems outlined previously.

[0030] It will also be appreciated that the keeper 17 may be rotated around the neck of the bottie so that the position of the rag may be placed on the right or the left depending on whether the person using the bottle is right or left handed. It may also be placed in a position where it does not interfere with the operation of the trigger 15.

[0031] Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment similar to Figure 2 and in this case there is provided a keeper 24 having iegs 25, 28 and including gripping ribs 27 and an eyelet 28. This particular embodiment is utilised on a cylindrical can or the plastic portions of a lid of a can which is shown at 29 in Figure 4. In this case a circular ring 30 is fitted about the body of the can so that the keeper 24 may clip above the ring and therefore be removed with the lid. !n the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3 the invention may be comprised as a set whereby the clipped diameters range from about 30mm, about 50mm and about 65mm to cater for bottles such as the spray bottie of Figure 1 and two common cart sizes.

[0032] The ctoth or rag hole size of the eyelet is ty ically 15mm to 20mm. These dimensions will of course vary depending on the size and configuration of the container and the size and type of material from which the rag or cleaning cloth is made. T:

[0033] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate further embodiments. In Figure 5 a keeper 31 is hingedly connected to a ltd 32 of an aerosol container 33 and may be moved between the position illustrated in phantom at 34 and the position illustrated at 35, it also includes an eyelet 36. The eyelet when positioned as illustrated in Figure 5 is used in the same way as illustrated in Figure 1.

[0034] Figure 6 is an embodiment of another version of the present invention whereby a bottle 0 of the type illustrated in Figure 1 utilises a figure eight type keeper 36 and this is retained in place on the bottie body 11 by the appitcation of the lid 12, The keeper 36 has an eyelet 37 and a ring 38 which fits over the threaded top 39 of the bottle body 11 and when the lid is screwed down on the bottle the keeper is held in place,

[0035] Figure 7 illustrates a !id 40 on aerosol container 41 having a keeper 42 moulded as part of the lid 40. The keeper 42 includes a flange 43) running about the lid 40 and a projecting eyelet 44 which again operates in the same way as eyelets of the previous embodiments.

[0036] Figure 8 is another embodiment and in this case there is provided a keeper 45 having an eyelet 46 and a magnetic insert shown in phantom at 47 so that the keeper is secured to the can utilising the magnet 47. The eyelet 46 operates in the same way as the previous embodiments.

[0037] Referring to Figures 9 to 13 there is illustrated a further embodiment based on the embodiments of Figures 2, 3 and 4. In this case the keepers are provided as a set 50 of three to match the three common sized spray bottles and spray cans, so there is a small size 51 suited to the trigger type bottles, the large size 52 suited to large spray cans and a size between the small and large suited to the smaller cans. White a set is desirable the keepers may be sold individually or as a packed add on with the bottles and cans. Thus the use may make an initial purchase with the keeper but then simply uncJip the keeper and but cans or bottles and ruse the keeper. This has a distinct advantage over the keepers that are made as part of the container or container lid.

[0038] Another feature of the keepers of Figures 9-13 is that the top surface 54 is flat and in use is horizontal on a standing bottle or can, the lower surface 55 tapers from a wide can contact surface 56 up to a narrow edge 57. This provides a comfortable region for the users hand while T: holding and operating the spray container, it being remembered that the in order to operate the spray control the hand must be close to the top of the can or bottle and in a position determined by the particular control. Thus the keepers for the can are able to slide around the can being made marginally smaller to clip and grip but still able to slide so that spraying may be

accomplished with the keeper still in place.

[0039] Ftgures 12 and 13 highlight a difference for the small keeper, the small keeper having a series of slots 58 spaced around its surface 56. As can be seen in Figure 12 and 13 one of these slots 58 is in register with an edge 59 of the bottle 60 and as can be further seen in the drawing the keeper hole 61 is automatically set at 90 degrees to the line of operation of the trigger 62. Due to the other slots this may be set at a range of positions suited to the user and may be positioned for right or left handed use.

[0040] Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present in vention, it will be appreciated thai many variations and modifications to the present invention will be possible and readil apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.