PRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] The present application claims priority to United States Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 61 /552,862, filed October 28, 201 1 , the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to automotive cleaning tools, and more particularly to multi-purpose, bendable, and elongated cleaning tools.

[0003] Elongated cleaning tools are used to clean crevices and other openings in and seams between automotive surfaces. For example, elongated bristled tools, such as brushes are typically used to clean the wheels and openings formed in the hubcaps. However, elongated tools are generally stiff in order to provide sufficient scrubbing force to effectively clean, thereby not facilitating full contact with curved surfaces or surfaces that are impeded and hard to reach.

[0004] In addition, automobiles require frequent cleaning of bugs, tars, and other debris that securely adheres to the car's windshield, bumpers, hubcaps, and other surfaces. Because these undesirable adherents typically do not remove with a sponge or even a high pressure stream of water, scrubbing with a mesh covered sponge is typically required.

[0005] Furthermore, it is desirable after washing a car to use a microfiber or chamois type cloth to absorb water from between seams and other hard to reach places.

[0006] It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide an elongated cleaning tool that includes an elongated, bendable cleaning implement.

[0007] It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide an elongated cleaning tool that includes both a microfiber cloth portion and a mesh covered scrubbing portion.

[0008] It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide an elongated cleaning tool that includes a cleaning implement that can be washed and reused.

[0009] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a multi-purpose cleaning tool comprising a handle, an elongated strip of material attached to the handle, a pliable foam core covering the elongated strip, and an elongated cleaning bonnet positioned in covering relation to the foam core. The elongated strip of material is composed of a plastically deformable and bendable metal, such as aluminum, having a modulus of elasticity conducive to it being bent and retaining the shape to which it has been bent without breaking. The material selected should also be capable of being repeatedly bent without breaking or losing its elasticity. Thus, the cleaning implement covering the strip of deformable material can be bent into a desired configuration and used to clean in otherwise unreachable places.

[0011] The foam core covering the deformable strip provides a pliable body that underlies the cleaning implement, while the cleaning bonnet has an elastic gathering at its open end that permits it to be securely slipped over the foam core. The cleaning bonnet is half covered in microfiber bristles, while the other half is covered in a mesh. The microfiber bristles absorb water from between seams and other hard to reach places, while the mesh is useful at providing scrubbing forces to remove undesired adherents such as bugs and road tars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof with portions of the cleaning assembly shown in cross-section;

[0015] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1 ;

[0016] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the present cleaning tool bent to a non-straight configuration; and

[0017] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing use of the present tool cleaning a wheel cap of a car. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Referring now to the drawings there is seen in Figures 1 , 2 and 4 a cleaning tool, designated generally by reference numeral 10, comprising a handle 12 and a cleaning assembly 14 attached thereto and extending outwardly therefrom. As seen in Figure 2, cleaning assembly 14 comprises an elongated deformable strip 16, a foam core 18 covering strip 16, and a cleaning bonnet 20 that is positioned in removable covering relation to foam core 18. Deformable strip 16 is preferably composed of aluminum or a similar material having physical properties that permit the strip to be repeatedly plastically deformed/bent while maintaining sufficient rigidity to not deform through the simple act of using the tool 10 to wipe or scrub a surface (in other words, the strip can be bent into a desired configuration and then the tool used for its intended purpose without affecting the shape in which the strip had been purposefully bent). Foam core 18 provides the pliable body that underlies cleaning bonnet 20 and is provided sufficient stiffness to usefully sustain

washing/scrubbing forces by the deformable strip 16 which it covers.

[0019] Cleaning bonnet 20 comprises an open end 22 defined by an elastic gathering 24 and a body half covered with microfiber bristles 26 to provide water absorption and half covered with a mesh 28 to provide a scrubbing tool. Bonnet 20 is securely slipped in covering relation over foam core 28 with elastic gathering 24 providing for a snug fit adjacent handle 12.

[0020] With reference to Figure 4, cleaning assembly 14 is seen as being bent into a predetermined configuration and in Figure 5 is shown being used in this bent configuration to clean/dry behind the openings 30 formed in a hubcap 30.