Cleaning implement

• US 20050150069A1
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freudenberg Household Products LP (Freudenberg & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Freudenberg Household Products LP (Freudenberg & Company KG)
• Inventors: McKnight, David A., Specht, Paul B., Lesley, Paul M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/116.200
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/144 having squeezing rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/16 Cloths; Pads; Sponges metal scraping sponges A47L13/07
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/24 Frames for mops; Mop heads handles B25G
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/44 Securing scouring-cloths to the brush or like body of the implement

Abstract

Disclosed is a cleaning implement, preferably in the form of a roller mop, that includes a mop head, a shaft, and a wringer. The cleaning implement further includes a connecting link connected to the mop head and to the shaft or wringer. The mop head has a connecting side and a cleaning side thereby defining a mop axis, which axis is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. At least a portion of the connecting link is disposed with the shaft. The mop head can include a scrubber attachment. Also inventive is the disclosed mechanism by which the scrubber attachment connects to the head of the mop. Various embodiments of mop heads can be used with the invention. A cleaning cloth can be mounted to the mop head.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement comprising:

a shaft having an operator end and a cleaning end, the operator end and the cleaning end defining a longitudinal axis;

a mop head comprising a liquid-absorbent member;

a wringing mechanism comprising an operator gripping portion and a wringer, the wringer being disposed at the cleaning end of the shaft, the mop head being movable relative to the wringer over a range of travel at least between a cleaning position and a plurality of wringing positions, the wringing mechanism in the wringing positions compressing at least a portion of the liquid-absorbent member whereby liquid is expellable therefrom; and

a scrubber attachment mounted to at least one of the shaft and the wringing mechanism, the scrubber attachment including a cleaning side and a connecting side, the cleaning side defining a plane, the scrubber attachment having a scrubber axis perpendicular to the plane of the cleaning side, the scrubber axis being disposed at an oblique scrubber angle with respect to said longitudinal axis of said shaft.

2. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the shaft has a hollow portion and a slot communicating therewith, and the wringing mechanism includes a connecting link, the connecting link being connected to the operator gripping handle and one of the mop head and the wringer thereby permitting relative movement of the wringer and the mop head upon movement of the operator gripping handle, the connecting link extending through the slot and having at least a portion thereof being disposed within the hollow portion of the shaft.

3. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the mop head includes a connecting side and a cleaning side, the connecting side and the cleaning side define a mop head axis, the mop head axis being disposed at an oblique mop angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

4. The cleaning implement according to claim 3, wherein the scrubber angle is substantially the same as the mop angle.

5. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the wringer includes a pair of rollers and a channel body for supporting the rollers in spaced relationship with each other such that a channel is defined therebetween.

6. The cleaning implement according to claim 5, wherein the scrubber attachment is mounted to the channel body.

7. The cleaning implement according to claim 6, wherein the channel body includes a track, and the scrubber attachment includes a mounting mechanism configured to mount to the track only when the scrubber attachment is in a predetermined orientation and is moved in a mounting direction.

8. The cleaning implement according to claim 7, wherein the track of the channel body includes first and second rails, and the mounting mechanism of the scrubber attachment includes first and second runners, the first and second runners configured to respectively engage the first and second rails.

9. The cleaning implement according to claim 8, wherein the second runner of the scrubber attachment includes a resiliently flexible retaining finger at a first end and a stop at the second end, the retaining finger configured to engage the second rail once the scrubber attachment is in a mounted position such that the scrubber attachment is prevented from moving in a removal direction, opposite the mounting direction, the stop configured to prevent the second runner from moving further in the mounting direction once the scrubber attachment is in the mounted position.

10. The cleaning implement according to claim 9, wherein the retaining finger includes a shoulder, the shoulder engaging the second rail when the scrubber attachment is in the mounted position, the retaining finger movable to disengage the shoulder form the second rail to allow the scrubber attachment to be movable in the removal direction.

11. The cleaning implement according to claim 8, wherein the first rail of the channel body has a flange, the first runner of the scrubber attachment has a pair of ribs defining a retaining groove therebetween, the retaining groove configured to accommodate the flange when the scrubber attachment is mounted to the track to retentively engage the scrubber attachment and the channel body.

12. The cleaning implement according to claim 11, wherein the second rail of the channel body has a flange, the scrubber attachment has a guide rib, the second runner of the scrubber attachment and the guide rib defining a second retaining groove therebetween, the second retaining groove configured to accommodate the flange of the second rail when the scrubber attachment is mounted to the track to retentively engage the scrubber attachment and the channel body.

13. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the scrubber attachment includes a plurality of bristles.

14. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the scrubber attachment includes a felt strip.

15. The cleaning implement according to claim 1, wherein the mop head includes a retaining clip, the retaining clip including a plurality of nubs, the nubs being configured to inhibit movement of the mop head from a cleaning position toward an extended position.

16. The cleaning implement according to claim 15, wherein the mop head includes a layer of material, overlaying the liquid-absorbent member.

17. The cleaning implement according to claim 16, wherein the layer of material comprises a reticulated material.

18. The cleaning implement according to claim 17, wherein the mop head includes a plurality of valleys wherein the liquid-absorbent member is exposed, and a plurality of lands in alternating relationship with the valleys, the lands having the layer of material disposed thereon.

19. The cleaning implement according to claim 18, wherein the valleys and the lands have a saw-toothed shape.

20. A cleaning implement comprising:

a shaft having an operator end and a cleaning end;

a mop head comprising a liquid-absorbent member;

a wringing mechanism comprising an operator gripping portion and a wringer, the wringer being disposed at the cleaning end of the shaft, the mop head being movable relative to the wringer over a range of travel at least between a cleaning position and a plurality of wringing positions, the wringing mechanism in the wringing positions compressing at least a portion of the liquid-absorbent member whereby liquid is expellable therefrom; and

a mounting track disposed on at least one of the shaft and the wringing mechanism, the mounting track including an opening end and an opposing end;

a scrubber attachment removably mounted to the mounting track, the scrubber attachment having a leading end and a trailing end, the scrubber attachment having a polarity such that the scrubber attachment is mountable to the mounting track by first inserting the leading end into the opening of the mounting track.

21. The cleaning implement according to claim 20, wherein the track has a first rail and a second rail, the scrubber attachment has a first runner and a second runner, the first and second runners engageable with the first and second rails, respectively, the first and second runners being configured such that the first runner cannot mount to the second rail and the second runner cannot mount to the first rail.

22. The cleaning implement according to claim 21, wherein the track has first and second flanges depending respectively from the first and second rails, the first and second flanges being in offset relationship with each other, the scrubber attachment has first and second retaining grooves, the first and second retaining grooves being configured to engage the first and second flanges, respectively.

23. The cleaning implement according to claim 22, wherein the first flange is offset from the opening of the track such that when the scrubber attachment is moved in a mounting direction from the opening onto the track, there is range of travel wherein the second retaining groove is in retentive engagement with the flange of the second rail and the first retaining groove is disengaged from the first flange of the first rail.

24. The cleaning implement according to claim 21, wherein the second runner has a resilient retaining finger and a stop.

25. The cleaning implement according to claim 24, wherein the retaining finger includes a shoulder which is in retentive engagement with the second rail when the scrubber attachment is in a mounted position, and the second rail includes a notch for accommodating at least a portion of the resilient finger when the scrubber attachment is in mounted position.

26. A cleaning implement comprising:

a shaft having an operator end and a cleaning end, the operator end and the cleaning end defining a longitudinal axis;

a mop head comprising a liquid-absorbent member;

a wringing mechanism comprising an operator gripping portion and a wringer, the wringer being disposed at the cleaning end of the shaft, the mop head being movable relative to the wringer over a range of travel at least between a cleaning position and a plurality of wringing positions, the wringing mechanism in the wringing positions compressing at least a portion of the liquid-absorbent member whereby liquid is expellable therefrom; and

a cleaning cloth mounted to at least one of the wringing mechanism and the mop head.

27. The cleaning implement according to claim 26, wherein the wringing mechanism includes a pair of rollers and a channel body, the channel body mounted to the cleaning end of the shaft, the rollers supported by the channel body, the cleaning cloth including a pair longitudinal edges, one of the longitudinal edges disposed between the liquid-absorbent member and the first roller, and the other of the longitudinal edges disposed between the liquid-absorbent member and the second roller.

28. The cleaning implement according to claim 26, wherein the cleaning cloth is an electrostatic dust cloth.

29. The cleaning implement according to claim 26, wherein the cleaning cloth is capable of being used for wet or dry cleaning.