2. Description of Related Art [0002] There are many cleaning devices available to remove foreign substances, whether liquid or solid, from a surface. For example, a consumer may use a mop to remove liquid from a floor, a feather duster to remove dust from a surface, e. g., furniture, a rag or cloth to remove dirt and other foreign substances from surfaces, etc. Devices have also been created that remove water droplets from a surface, such as a glass, tile, or painted surfaces.

[0003] One drawback in using a cloth or rag to remove water droplets from a surface is the resultant streaking and incomplete removal of the water. In order to enhance this removal, a"bladed"device having a flat edge may be used to ensure the removal of all foreign substances from the surfaces. However, these"bladed"cleaning devices often scratch the surface that the consumer desires to clean, thereby defeating the original purpose.

This result is particularly defeating when the scratched surface is a painted one, such as the body of an automobile.

[0004] One prior art device that has been created to overcome the drawback of possible scratching discussed above includes a flexible blade connected to a rigid gripping element. The blade is manufactured from a flexible, closed-cell foam which will not scratch a painted surface. However, the use of a rigid gripping element drastically decreases the applicability of such a cleaning device to a non-flat surface. For example, if such a cleaning device were used on the hood of a car, when passed over the hood of the car, and due to the rigid gripping element, water would remain at or around the grooved and/or curved areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art cleaning devices. It is another object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device that is substantially flexible and deformable, thereby allowing a non-flat or irregular surface to be thoroughly cleaned. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device that is easy to use and inexpensive in its manufacture.

[0006] The present invention is directed to a cleaning device including an elongated substantially tubular portion extending along a first axis. The cleaning device includes a blade element attached to and extending away from the elongated tubular portion, and the blade element has a base portion and an edge portion. The edge portion of the blade element extends along a second axis, which is parallel to the first axis of the tubular portion.

The cleaning device, namely the elongated tubular portion and the blade element, are flexible and deformable. This cleaning device is manufactured from a material, such that when the material is deformed via pressure and then released, the blade element returns to its original position. In a preferred embodiment, the tubular portion and the blade element are manufactured from a polymeric material comprising a synthetic closed cell sponge rubber.

[0007] The present invention also includes a cleaning device kit, including a substantially flat section of deformable material having a first end portion, a second end portion, a middle portion and a flat section width. The kit includes an adhesive applied to the first end portion and the second end portion, and a tubular element positioned on the middle portion.

[0008] The present invention, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with the additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of exemplary embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] Fig. 1 is an edge view of a cleaning device according to the present invention; [0010] Fig. 2 is a front view of the cleaning device of Fig. 1; [0011] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cleaning device of Fig. 1; [0012] Fig. 4 is a front sectional view of another embodiment of a cleaning device according to the present invention; [0013] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cleaning device according to the present invention; [0014] Fig. 6 is a top view of a cleaning device kit according to the present invention; [0015] Fig. 7 is a photographic image of a cleaning device according to the present invention in use; [0016] Fig. 8 is a photographic image of a cleaning device according to the present invention in another use; and [0017] Fig. 9 is a photographic image of a cleaning device according to the present invention in yet another use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0018] The present invention is a cleaning device 10 and is illustrated in Figs. 1-5. The cleaning device 10 includes an elongated, substantially tubular portion 12 extending along a longitudinal axis A-A. A blade element 14 is attached to and extends away from the elongated tubular portion 12. In addition, this blade element 14 has a base portion 16 and an edge portion 18. The edge portion 18 of the blade element 14 extends along a second axis B-B, which is substantially parallel to the first axis A-A of the tubular portion 12.

[0019] Both the tubular portion 12 and the blade element 14 should be manufactured from a flexible and deformable material that has superior memory characteristics, such that when the tubular member 12 or the blade element 14 are deformed and subsequently released, the tubular element 12 and the blade element 14 return to their original shapes. It is envisioned that this tubular element 12 and the blade element 14 can be of any form or shape that is suitable in the present application. Typically, the tubular portion 12 and the blade element 14 are manufactured from a flexible material, such as foam and/or a polymeric material. This polymeric material is both resilient and, preferably, water resistant.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the polymeric material is a chemically expanded polymer in the form of a closed cell microcellular foam formulation. For example, the polymeric material may be a synthetic closed cell sponge rubber. In addition, the polymeric material may include a polyurethane, an expanded neoprene gas, a rubber compound, a silicone compound, neoprene, vinyl nitrile neoprene, polyethylene, butyl ethylene, vinyl acetate, cross-linked polyethylene, butadiene, an elastomeric sponge, and other suitable materials.

[0021] While the cleaning device 10 of Figs. 1-4 illustrate a separate tubular portion 12 and blade element 14, the tubular portion 12 and blade element 14 may also be manufactured as a single, integral element from a pour-mold process, a thermo-mold process, etc. Together, the tubular element 12 and the blade element 14 create a cleaning device 10 that is entirely flexible. In use, when a ridge, groove or curve is encountered on a surface to be cleaned (as seen in Figs. 7-9), the flexibility of the cleaning device 10 of the present application allows the blade element edge portion 18 to maintain continuous contact. The cleaning device 10 is hand-held and can be deformed into many shapes, thereby increasing the overall flexibility of its application. For example, the cleaning device 10 has been found to be particularly useful in removing water droplets from a painted surface of an automobile.

Due to its overall flexibility, together with the use of the polymeric material (a synthetic closed cell sponge rubber), the cleaning device 10 quickly and easily removes all water from the discontinuous surface of the car. When a curve in the car body is encountered, the user must merely flex the cleaning device 10 and continue the cleaning movement.

[0022] As seen in Fig. 4, in another embodiment, the tubular portion 12 may be a hollow tube element 20. When using the hollow tube element 20, and in order to prevent water from entering the hollow tube element 20, a first cap element 22 and a second cap element 24 are utilized. Specifically, the first cap element 22 is positioned partially over a first end 26 of the hollow tube element 20, and the second cap element 24 is placed partially over a second end 28 of the hollow tube element 20. In a preferred embodiment, the first cap element 22 is frictionally engaged with the first end 26 of the hollow tube element 20 and, similarly, the second cap element 24 is frictionally engaged with the second end 28 of the hollow tube element 20. However, the first cap element 22 and the second cap element 24 may be adhesively attached to the first end 26 of the hollow tube element 20 and the second end 28 of the hollow tube element 20.

[0023] As discussed above, the tubular portion 12 and the blade element 14 may be manufactured as a single, integral cleaning device 10. As shown in Fig. 5, the use of this integral formation would preclude the gaps, seams and, if used, first cap element 22 and second cap element 24, thereby providing a more uniform and desirable structure.

[0024] The present invention also includes a cleaning device kit 30. The cleaning device kit 30 includes a substantially flat section 32 of deformable and flexible material, and this flat section 32 has a first end portion 34, a second end portion 36, a middle portion 38 and a flat section width W. An adhesive material, such as glue or the like, is applied over the surface of the first end portion 34 and the second end portion 36. The tubular portion 12 is then placed or positioned on the middle portion 38, and may be also attached to the flat section 32 by an adhesive.

[0025] Typically, since the cleaning device kit 30 of the present invention would be sold as a kit, the adhesive on the first end portion 34 and the second end portion 36 would be covered by a first backing material 42 and a second backing material 44. This first backing material 42 and second backing material 44 could be easily removed to expose the adhesive underneath for creation of the cleaning device 10. When the tubular portion 12 is a hollow tube element 20, the first cap element 22 may be attached, via a releasable adhesive, immediately adjacent the first end 26 of the hollow tube element 20, and the second cap element 24 could be attached, via a releasable adhesive, adjacent the second end 28 of the hollow tube element 20. Further, the length of the tubular portion 12 is less than the flat section width W.

[0026] In creating the cleaning device 10 from the cleaning device kit 30, the first backing material 42 and the second backing material 44 are removed from the first end portion 34 and second end portion 36 of the flat section 32. The first cap element 22 is frictionally engaged with the first end 26 of the hollow tube element 20, and the second cap element 24 is frictionally engaged with the second end 28 of the hollow tube element 20.

Next, the first end portion 34 is adjoined with the second end portion 36 of the flat section 32.

Simply, the first end portion 34 is"folded"over the tubular portion 12, and the remaining portions of the first end portion 34 and second end portion 36 are adhered together. Once complete, the blade element 14 is formed, and the cleaning device 10 is created. This method is simple and provides the flexible cleaning device 10.

[0027] Since the length of the hollow tube element 20 is less than the flat section width W, both the first cap element 22 and the second cap element 24, as engaged, are "sunken"with respect to edges of the flat section 32. This serves to hold the first cap element 22 and second cap element 24 in place and, further, to prevent any water from infiltrating the hollow tube element 20.

[0028] Once created, the cleaning device 10 provides a light and versatile cleaning tool having maximum flexibility. Again, as seen in Figs. 7-9, the cleaning device 10 is fully deformable and flexible, thereby allowing a user to easily traverse ridged, grooved, or other noncontiguous surfaces. In addition, the cleaning device 10 will not leave residue on the surface, e. g.,"streaks", and will not scratch the surface. The cleaning device 10 is useful in removing lint from clothing, pet hair from material, soap scum and mildew from shower surfaces, e. g., tile and glass, etc.

[0029] This invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obvious modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations.