Rechargeable aerosol applicator and cleaning implement

Jan. 20, 1970 w. d. williams etal 3,490,657

RECHARGEABLE AEROSOL APPLICATOR AND CLEANING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. 26, 1967

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United States Patent Office „ 3,490,657

Patented Jan. 20, 1970

3,490,657 RECHARGEABLE AEROSOL APPLICATOR AND CLEANING IMPLEMENT William Dale Williams, Mahwah, and Ned Hyde Neal, Waldwick, N.J., assignors to Sterling Drug Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware

Filed Sept. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 670,627

Int. Cl. B65d 83/14; B65b 31/00; A46b 11/02

U.S. Cl. 222 399 8 Claims

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A device including an elongated housing in one portion of which is a substantially permanent pressure container with aerosol valves at both ends thereof. A valve 15 at one end is used for transferring a product, e.g. for cleaning, from an extraneous pressurized container outside the device into the pressure container inside the device. The other valve is used for transferring the product from the interior pressure container to a plastic ²⁰tube in another portion of the housing for expression at the point of use, e.g. cleaning, where a mop may be provided to distribute the material on the surface to be processed, e.g. cleaned.

This invention relates to a new and improved rechargeable aerosol products applicator and cleaning implement, and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of an elongated tubular handle member in one ³⁰end of which is contained in substantially permanent relationship therein a pressure container for an aerosol cleaning applicator or the like, such container having an exterior valve for accepting a recharge of similar material from an extraneous pressure container and there ³⁵being a valve at the opposite end actuated from the outside of the handle member for releasing the pressurized cleaning material therein through an elongated plastic tube to a point of exit which may be provided with a mop or the like for distributing the cleaning material on ⁴⁰a surface to be cleaned.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which: 45

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the device;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough, and FIG. 3 is a section on line 3—3 of FIG. 2.

In describing the present invention, it is emphasized that it comprises a generally unitary single elongated ⁵⁰housing which acts as a handle and this may be of any suitable material such as a commercial plastic. This handle comprises a generally tubular portion at 10 which may be of any desired configuration, and integral therewith there is a gradually narrowing or conical portion 12 at the end of which there is provided a mop or some means for distributing cleaning material. The entire casing 10 and 12 is used as a handle for the manipulation of the mop and to provide the cleaning material under pressure at a product exit indicated at 16 adjacent the ⁶⁰center position of the mop which may be held in position by any convenient means.

The portion of the device at 10 contains substantially permanently therein a pressure container 20 which is provided with a one-way acting recharging valve which ⁶⁵is generally indicated at 22. Such valves are well known and may include a tube serving to accept the usual retractive stem 24 of an extraneous pressure container generally indicated at 26. When the stem 24 is applied to the one-way valve 22 and actuated in the usual man- ⁷⁰ner, the material in the container 26 under pressure is discharged into the pressure container 20 and refills the same ready for use. The one-way valve 22 prevents the material under pressure in presscure cylinder 20 from escaping in this direction, and as a practical matter may be in the form of an ordinary aerosol stem-type valve.

At the opposite end of container 20 there is a valve stem 28 which may be, e.g. tilt actuated, if desired. This type of valve is also well known in the art and in the present case is actuated by a finger or thumb button 30 located in a generally radial direction in the housing adjacent the juncture between the housing 10 and the conical portion thereof at 12. It will be clear that by pressing inwardly as for instance against spring or pressure means as is well known in the art, the stem 28 is activated to open so as to discharge pressurized material in the container 20 into the elongated plastic tube 32, the latter extending the length of the conical member 12.

The tube 32 may be held in position within the member 12 in any desired manner but in any event it receives the material under pressure from container 20 and delivers it to the exit opening at 16 in the area of the mop 14.

It is believed that the use and operation of this device will be clear. The user merely grasps the housing 10 for instance in one hand and applying the mop where desired to clean a surface, depresses the button 20, tilting stem 28, causing material under pressure in container 20 to travel along the interior of tube 32 to the exit point 16. The device is long enough to be used by both hands if this should be desired or it can be used as a one-handed device also.

When the material in the container is exhausted, it is merely necessary to apply the device to the stem 24 of the container 26 and this latter container may be of large form, the cleaning device above described being brought to it, or the container 26 may be made portable and manipulated as desired in order to recharge the device.