Cleaning attachment for converting a cleaning implement to a mop

• US 20040158951A1
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Watch Hill Harbor Technologies
• Original Assignee: Watch Hill Harbor Technologies
• Inventors: Smith, James A., Murphy, Betty J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,458,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/247
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0055 Brushes combined with other articles normally separate from the brushing process, e.g. combs, razors, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 17/08 Other accessories, e.g. scrapers, rubber buffers for preventing damage to furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/302 Broom
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/44 Securing scouring-cloths to the brush or like body of the implement

Abstract

Various forms of cleaning attachments are described for converting a cleaning implement to a mop. In one form the attachment is a combination wipe and attachment wherein at least a portion of the attachment is made of an absorbent material so that the attachment itself can function as a wipe. In another form of the invention a wipe is detachably mounted to the cover portion of the attachment by reusable mounting structure located on at least one of the side walls of the cover. Various forms of pouches or containers are also described for containing a cleaning solution or other added ingredients which may form part of the attachment by the container of pouch being secured to the attachment.

Claims

1. A combination wipe and attachment for converting a cleaning implement to a mop, comprising a flexible cover, said cover in its flat unassembled condition having a first end and a second end, a continuous intermediate section between said first end and said second end, said second end being bifurcated to create a pair of spaced outwardly extending flaps with an open area between said flaps, said cover having an inner surface and an outer surface, said intermediate section including a central section between said first end and said second end, fastening structure on said inner surface of said flaps, complementary fastening structure on said outer surface of said first end, said fastening structure and said complementary fastening structure being located for engagement when said cover is folded around a cleaning head of a cleaning implement to form a closed loop around the cleaning head with said flaps being outwardly of and secured to said first end whereby said open area between said flaps is adapted to accommodate a handle extending outwardly from the cleaning head, said loop having a top and a bottom, and said central section being at said bottom of said loop remote from said secured first end and flaps at said top of said loop, said intermediate section having a first contact portion on one side of said loop adjacent to said central section, said intermediate section having a second contact portion on an opposite side of said loop adjacent to said central section, each of said first contact portion and said second contact portion being made of absorbent material to provide a cleaning area on each side of said loop at said bottom of said loop whereby the mounting of said attachment to a cleaning implement converts the cleaning implement to a mop.

2. The combination of claim 1 including dispensing structure in said cleaning area of at least one side of said loop for dispensing an added ingredient.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said entire cover is made of said absorbent material to provide a single continuous cleaning area extending from said one side of said loop to said opposite side of said loop, and said cover being impregnated throughout with said added ingredient to comprise said dispensing structure.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said central section is made of absorbent material whereby said contact portions are integral with each other to form a single continuos cleaning area, said dispensing structure being a pad mounted to said cover in said single continuous cleaning area, and said pad containing said added ingredient.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said pad is located against said inner surface within said loop, and said pad extending from said one side of said loop to said opposite side of said loop across said central section.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said pad is located against said outer surface outside of said loop, and said pad extending from said one side of said loop to said opposite side of said loop across said central section.

7. The combination of claim 4 wherein said pad is located on said one side of said loops and does not extend to said opposite side of said loop whereby said cleaning area on opposite side of said loop may function as a wipe.

8. The combination of claim 4 wherein said pad is a coating non-detachably mounted to said cover.

9. The combination of claim 2 wherein said dispensing structure is a flexible pouch mounted to one of said sides of said loop, said pouch containing said added ingredient, and said pouch having a one-way valve in an outer wall thereof to dispense said added ingredient when pressure is applied to said pouch.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said pouch is detachably mounted to said cover.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said intermediate section has side edges whereby said loop has two opposite sets of side edges, and each of said sets of side edges having supplemental fastening structure to secure said sets of said edges together.

12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said intermediate section has side edges whereby said loop has two opposite sets of side edges, and one of said sets of side edges being longer than the other of said sets of side edges whereby said bottom section is slanted to conform to a slanted shape of the cleaning implement.

13. The combination of claim 1 in further combination with a cleaning implement having a cleaning head and a handle, and said cover being mounted around said cleaning head with said handle extending outwardly from said cleaning head through said open area between said flaps.

14. A cleaning attachment for converting a cleaning implement to a mop, comprising a flexible cover, said cover in its flat unassembled condition having a first end and a second end, a continuous intermediate section between said first end and said second end, said second end being bifurcated to create a pair of spaced outwardly extending flaps with an open area between said flaps, said cover having an inner surface and an outer surface, said intermediate section including a central section between said first end and said second end, fastening structure on said inner surface of said flaps, complementary fastening structure on said outer surface of said first end, said fastening structure and said complementary fastening structure being located for engagement when said cover is folded around a cleaning head of a cleaning implement to form a closed loop around the cleaning head with said flaps being outwardly of and secured to said first end whereby said open area between said flaps is adapted to accommodate a handle extending outwardly from the cleaning head, said loop having a top and a bottom, said loop having first and second side walls formed by said intermediate section and separated from each other by said central section, reusable mounting structure on said outer surface on said first side wall and further reusable mounting structure on said outer surface of said cover, and said central section being at said bottom of said loop remote from said secured first end and flaps at said top of said loop with said reusable mounting structure and said further reusable mounting structure exposed at said outer surface to detachably mount a detached wipe at said first side wall of said loop to convert the cleaning implement to a mop and to detachably remove the wipe after use whereby a different wipe may be selectively mounted to said outer surface.

15. The attachment of claim 14 wherein said further reusable mounting structure is on said first wall whereby a wipe may be mounted to said cover confined to said first wall.

16. The attachment of claim 14 wherein said further reusable mounting structure is on said central section whereby a wipe may be mounted to said cover on said first wall extending to said central section.

17. The attachment of claim 14 wherein said further reusable mounting structure is on said outer surface of said second wall whereby a wipe may be mounted to said cover to both of said walls and across said central section.

18. The attachment of claim 17 wherein a pouch is mounted to said first side wall above said reusable mounting structure, said pouch containing an added ingredient, said pouch having an outer wall remote from said cover, and said outer wall of said pouch having a one-way valve to dispense said added ingredient when pressure is applied to said pouch.

19. The attachment of claim 14 wherein a pouch is mounted to one of said side walls, said pouch containing an added ingredient, said pouch having an outer wall remote from said one of said side walls, and a one-way valve in said pouch outer wall to dispense said added ingredient when pressure is applied to said pouch.

20. The attachment of claim 19 wherein said pouch is detachably mounted to said cover.

21. The attachment of claim 14 wherein intermediate section has side edges whereby said loop has two opposite sets of side edges, and each of said sets of side edges having supplemental fastening structure to secure said sets of said edges together.

22. The attachment of claim 14 wherein said intermediate section has side edges whereby said loop has two opposite sets of side edges, and one of said sets of side edges being longer than the other of said sets of side edges whereby said bottom section is slanted to conform to a slanted shape of the cleaning implement.

23. The attachment of claim 14 in combination with a wipe detachably mounted to said reusable mounting structure and to said reusable mounting structure.

24. The attachment of claim 23 in further combination with a cleaning implement having a cleaning head and a handle, and said cover being mounted around said cleaning head with said handle extending outwardly from said cleaning head through said open area between said flaps.

25. A cleaning attachment for a cleaning implement having an elongated handle and a cleaning head attached to one end of the handle, said cleaning attachment comprising a flexible cover having a top portion and a bottom portion, said flexible cover including a pair of walls spaced from each other for fitting on opposite sides of the cleaning head, each of said walls having an upper end at said top portion, connecting structure at said upper ends connecting said walls together, said connecting structure having a generally centrally located spacing whereby said connecting structure may be disposed above and over the cleaning head with the handle located in the spacing, each of said walls having a lower end at said bottom portion, said lower ends being connected to each other by a central support surface, said attachment including a container mounted to said cover for holding a cleaning solution, said container having an outer wall spaced from said cover, at least one dispensing opening in said outer wall, flow regulating structure at said dispensing opening to selectively dispense the cleaning solution from said container, and reusable mounting structure at spaced locations on the outer surface of said cover to detachably mount a detached wipe to said outer surface of said cover.

26. The cleaning attachment of claim 25 wherein said container has a flexible outer wall, said dispensing opening being in said flexible outer wall, and said flow regulating structure being a one-way valve in said flexible outer wall at said dispensing open whereby the cleaning solution is dispensed when pressure is applied to said outer wall.

27. The cleaning attachment of claim 25 wherein said outer wall has a bottom portion extending outwardly from said cover, and said at least one dispensing opening being in said bottom portion.

28. The cleaning attachment of claim 27 wherein there are a plurality of said dispensing openings, and said flow regulating structure being a sponge layer mounted across said dispensing openings.

29. The cleaning attachment of claim 25 wherein said container is detachably mounted to said cover.

31. The attachment of claim 29 including padding mounted against said wings and said central support surface, an outer skin against said padding, and said outer skin having said continuous curve.

32. The attachment of claim 31 wherein said outer skin is porous, and said padding being impregnated with a cleaning solution for being dispensed through said outer skin.

33. The attachment of claim 29 in combination with the cleaning implement, said cleaning implement being a broom, and a wipe mounted to said bottom portion.

35. The attachment of claim 33 in combination with the cleaning implement, said cleaning implement being a broom, and a wipe mounted to said bottom portion.

30. A cleaning attachment for a cleaning implement having an elongated handle and a cleaning head attached to one end of the handle, said cleaning attachment comprising a flexible cover having a top portion and a bottom portion, said flexible cover including a pair of walls spaced from each other for fitting on opposite sides of the cleaning head, each of said walls having an upper end at said top portion, connecting structure at said upper ends connecting said walls together, said connecting structure having a generally centrally located spacing whereby said connecting structure may be disposed above and over the cleaning head with the handle located in the spacing, each of said walls having a lower end at said bottom portion, said lower ends being connected to each other by a central support surface, a wing extending outwardly on each side of said support surface extending outwardly at a respective one of said walls, said wings having an outer surface, reusable mounting structure on said outer surface to detachably mount a detached wipe to said outer surface below the cleaning head, and said outer surface of said wings and of said central support surface being a smooth continuous curve.

34. A cleaning attachment for a cleaning implement having an elongated handle and a cleaning head attached to one end of the handle, said cleaning attachment comprising a flexible cover having a top portion and a bottom portion, said flexible cover including a pair of walls spaced from each other for fitting on opposite sides of the cleaning head, each of said walls having an upper end at said top portion, connecting structure at said upper ends connecting said walls together, said connecting structure having a generally centrally located spacing whereby said connecting structure may be disposed above and over the cleaning head with the handle located in the spacing, each of said walls having a lower end at said bottom portion, said lower ends being connected to each other by a central support surface, a wing extending outwardly on each side of said support surface extending outwardly at a respective one of said walls, said wings having an outer surface, reusable mounting structure on said outer surface to detachably mount a detached wipe to said outer surface below the cleaning head, said attachment being of claim shell form with said connecting structure being integral with said walls at said upper portion, said central support surface being in two sections separate from each other, and said two sections being detachably secured together by securing structure.