Cleaning pad and cleaning implement

• US 20050081888A1
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Osborne, Jeffrey Len, Policicchio, Nicola John, O'Donnell, Hugh Joseph, Pung, David John, Breidenbach, Vincent Sean, Allie, Edward Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 8,250,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/16 Cloths; Pads; Sponges metal scraping sponges A47L13/07
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/256 for mops made of cloth

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cleaning implement comprises a handle; a head portion pivotally attached to the handle comprising an upper surface and a lower surface connected to the upper surface by side edges; and a cleaning pad removably attached to the head portion, the cleaning pad comprising an absorbent layer which extends over the lower surface of the head portion and a scrubbing strip which extends along a side edge of the head portion.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement comprising

a handle;

a head portion pivotally attached to the handle and comprising an upper surface and a lower surface connected to the upper surface by side edges; and

a cleaning pad removably attached to the head portion, the cleaning pad comprising an absorbent layer which extends over the lower surface of the head portion and a scrubbing strip which extends along a side edge of the head portion.

2. A cleaning implement according to claim 1, which is impregnated with a liquid cleaning composition.

3. A cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the scrubbing strip is liquid pervious.

4. A cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the scrubbing strip comprises an abrasive material.

5. A cleaning implement according to claim 4, wherein the scrubbing strip comprises a thermoplastic film.

6. A cleaning implement according to claim 5, wherein the film comprises a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from the film and from the side edge of the cleaning implement.

7. A cleaning implement according to claim 5, wherein the film comprises a plurality of apertures.

8. A cleaning implement according to claim 7, wherein the protrusions and/or apertures are offset relative to adjacent protrusions and/or apertures.

9. A cleaning implement according to claim 4, wherein the scrubbing strip comprises a layer of particulate material.

10. A cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the scrubbing strip extends along substantially the entire length of the cleaning pad.

11. A cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the scrubbing strip is positioned on a leading side edge of the head portion, in the direction of forward cleaning movement.

12. A cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the scrubbing strip is of contrasting colour to the remainder of the cleaning pad.

13. A cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning pad comprises at least two scrubbing strips, each scrubbing strip extending along a side edge of the head portion.

14. A cleaning implement according to claim 13, wherein the at least two scrubbing strips have different abrasive properties.

15. A cleaning implement according to claim 13, wherein the scrubbing strips are of different colours.

16. A cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent layer comprises superabsorbent material.

17. A cleaning kit comprising

a cleaning implement comprising a handle and a head portion pivotally attached thereto, the head portion comprising an upper surface and a lower surface connected by side edges;

and

a cleaning pad for removably attachment to the cleaning implement, the cleaning pad comprising an absorbent layer and a scrubbing strip, such that on attachment to the cleaning implement the absorbent layer extends over the lower surface of the head portion and the scrubbing strip extends along a side edge of the head portion.

18. A kit according to claim 17, further comprising instructions for attaching the cleaning pad to the cleaning implement.

19. A method of cleaning a hard surface comprising

providing a cleaning implement comprising a handle and a head portion pivotally attached thereto, the head portion having an upper surface and a lower surface connected to the upper surface by side edges;

attaching to the head portion a cleaning pad comprising an absorbent layer and a scrubbing strip, such that the absorbent layer extends over the lower surface of the head portion and the scrubbing strip extends along a side edge of the head portion;

optionally, applying a liquid cleaning composition to the surface to be cleaned and/or to the head portion of the cleaning implement;

wiping the hard surface with the cleaning implement; and

,

optionally, removing the cleaning pad from the head portion of the cleaning implement.

20. A method according to claim 19, which further comprises pivoting the head portion of the cleaning implement, and scrubbing the surface to be cleaned with the scrubbing strip of the cleaning pad.

21. A disposable cleaning pad for removable attachment to a cleaning implement, the cleaning pad comprising a longitudinally-extending central panel comprising an absorbent layer, and a side panel abutting each longitudinally-extending side of the central panel, wherein at least one the side panels comprises a scrubbing strip, and the central panel is more highly absorbent to liquid than the side panels.

22. A cleaning pad according to claim 21, wherein the central panel extends across at least one third of the width of the cleaning pad.

23. A kit comprising

a cleaning implement comprising a handle and a head portion pivotally attached thereto;

and

a cleaning pad as defined in claim 21.

24. A method of cleaning a hard surface comprising

providing a cleaning implement comprising a handle and a head portion pivotally attached thereto, the head portion having an upper surface and a lower surface connected to the upper surface by side edges;

attaching to the head portion a cleaning pad as defined in claim 21, such that the central panel extends over the lower surface of the head portion and the side panels extend over side edges of the head portion;

optionally applying a liquid cleaning composition to the surface to be cleaned and/or to the head portion of the cleaning implement;

wiping the hard surface with the cleaning implement; and

,

optionally, removing the cleaning pad from the head portion of the cleaning implement.