Multi-surfaces cleaning implement

• US 20060048318A1
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Davis-Wilson, Jennifer Ellen, Kopelow, Leo, Newman, Matthew Lloyd, Crowe, Thomas George, Lang, Erin Meredith, Wurzelbacher, Tracey Ann, Watkins, Anthony John, Goh, Jerome Joo Ge, Stackpole, Arthur Bryon Jr., Kurjan, Christine Marie, Zenkich, Ramona, Halter, Jeffrey Thomas, Rohrbaugh, Elizabeth Ann, Verbiest, Jan Hendik Maria
• Granted Patent: US 7,536,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/97.100
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/12 with reciprocating or oscillating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/24 Frames for mops; Mop heads handles B25G
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/256 for mops made of cloth
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/38 Hinged, pivoted, swivelling, or folding joints

Abstract

A cleaning implement is provided for cleaning surfaces with a cleaning substrate. The cleaning implement includes a handle connected via a universal joint to a mop head. The mop head includes a bumper pad, which is made of a deformable and nonabsorbent material. The bumper pad can be deformed in the Z direction and within the X-Y plane. The cleaning implement can also include a motor for causing a portion of the mop head to move relative to the handle.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement for use with a cleaning substrate, comprising:

a mop head for receiving and retaining a cleaning substrate, said mop head comprising a bumper pad wherein said bumper pad is substantially nonabsorbent and wherein said bumper pad is deformable, and an interconnecting member connected to said bumper pad wherein said interconnecting member is substantially rigid and wherein the “

Rigid to Deformable”

ratio of said mop head is between about 0.1 and about 0.75; and

a handle operably connected to said mop head.

2. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the “

Rigid to Deformable”

ratio of said mop head is between about 0.15 and about 0.7.

3. The cleaning implement of claim 2 wherein the “

Rigid to Deformable”

ratio of said mop head is between about 0.15 and about 0.65.

4. The cleaning implement of claim 1 further comprising a disposable cleaning substrate wherein said cleaning substrate is releasably attached to said mop head.

5. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said handle is pivotably connected to said mop head by a universal joint.

6. A cleaning implement for use with a cleaning substrate, comprising:

a mop head for receiving and retaining a cleaning substrate, said mop head comprising;

a bumper pad having a longitudinal axis, a front and a back edge, wherein said bumper pad is substantially nonabsorbent and deformable and wherein said bumper pad has an elliptical shape defined by said front and back edges, wherein said front and back edges intersect to form at least one tip located on said longitudinal axis; and

an interconnecting member connected to said bumper pad along said longitudinal axis;

a handle operably connected to said mop head; and

a disposable cleaning substrate wherein said cleaning substrate is releasably attached to said mop head.

7. The cleaning implement of claim 6 wherein the length of said interconnecting member measured along said longitudinal axis is at least about 20% of the length of said bumper pad measured along said longitudinal axis.

8. The cleaning implement of claim 7 wherein the length of said interconnecting member measured along said longitudinal axis is between about 20% and about 85% of the length of said bumper pad measured along said longitudinal axis.

9. The cleaning implement of claim 7 wherein the width of said interconnecting member measured along a line perpendicular to said longitudinal axis is less than about 85% of the width of said bumper pad measured along said line perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

10. The cleaning implement of claim 9 wherein the width of said interconnecting member measured along a line perpendicular to said longitudinal axis is less than about 50% of the width of said bumper pad measured along said line perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

11. A cleaning implement for use with a cleaning substrate, comprising:

a mop head for receiving and retaining a cleaning substrate, said mop head comprising;

a bumper pad having a longitudinal axis, a front and a back edge, wherein said bumper pad is substantially nonabsorbent and deformable and wherein said bumper pad has an elliptical shape defined by said front and back edges, wherein said front and back edges intersect to form at least one tip located on said longitudinal axis and wherein said front and back edges form an angle α

at said tip, wherein said angle α

is between about 10 degrees and about 150 degrees; and

a handle operably connected to said mop head.

12. The cleaning implement of claim 11 wherein said angle α

is between about 40 degrees and about 120 degrees.

13. The cleaning implement of claim 11 wherein said front and back edges intersect to form a second tip located on said longitudinal axis and wherein said front and back edges form an angle β

at said second tip, wherein said angle β

is between about 60 degrees and about 110 degrees.

14. The cleaning implement of claim 13 wherein said angle β

is between about 75 degrees and about 100 degrees.

15. The cleaning implement of claim 11 further comprising a disposable cleaning substrate wherein said cleaning substrate is releasably attached to said mop head.

16. A cleaning implement for use with a cleaning substrate, comprising:

a mop head for receiving and retaining a cleaning substrate, said mop head comprising;

a bumper pad wherein said bumper pad is substantially nonabsorbent and wherein said bumper pad is made of a deformable material and wherein said bumper pad includes a plurality of weaknesses for increasing the ability of said bumper pad to deform; and

an interconnecting member connected to said bumper pad wherein said interconnecting member is substantially rigid; and

a handle operably connected to said mop head.

17. The cleaning implement of claim 16 wherein said handle is pivotably connected to said mop head by a universal joint.

18. The cleaning implement of claim 16 wherein said weaknesses are selected from the group consisting of slits made on a portion of said bumper pad, slits made through the whole thickness of said bumper pad, voids created within said bumper pad, cavities made on the top or bottom surface of said bumper pad, openings extending through the entire thickness of said bumper pad, and any combination thereof

19. The cleaning implement of claim 18 wherein said weaknesses are a plurality openings extending through the entire thickness of said bumper pad and wherein said openings are capable of draining a liquid when said bumper pad is rinsed.

20. The cleaning implement of claim 19 wherein said bumper pad comprises between 2 and 30 of said openings.

21. A cleaning implement for use with a cleaning substrate, comprising:

a mop head for receiving and retaining a cleaning substrate, said mop head comprising;

a bumper pad having a longitudinal axis, a middle portion, a front and a back edge, wherein said bumper pad is substantially nonabsorbent and deformable and wherein said bumper pad has an elliptical shape defined by said front and back edges, wherein said front and back edges intersect to form at least one tip portion located on said longitudinal axis and wherein the thickness of said bumper pad at said tip portion is greater than the thickness of said bumper pad at said middle portion such that the ability of the bumper pad to deform at said tip portion is less than the ability of the bumper pad to deform at said middle portion; and

a handle operably connected to said mop head.

22. The cleaning implement of claim 21 further comprising a disposable cleaning substrate wherein said cleaning substrate is releasably attached to said mop head.

23. The cleaning implement of claim 21 wherein said bumper pad further comprises at least one attachment structure for engaging and retaining a cleaning substrate and wherein said attachment structure is substantially adjacent to said tip portion.

24. A cleaning implement for use with a cleaning substrate, comprising:

a mop head for receiving and retaining a cleaning substrate, said mop head comprising;

a bumper pad having a longitudinal axis, a front and a back edge wherein said bumper pad has an elliptical shape defined by said front and back edges, wherein said front and back edges intersect to form at least one tip located on said longitudinal axis;

at least one retaining member for engaging and retaining a disposable cleaning substrate wherein said retaining member is attached to said bumper pad and is located on said longitudinal axis of said bumper pad;

a handle operably connected to said mop head; and

a disposable cleaning substrate having a longitudinal axis defining a first and a second half of said cleaning substrate wherein a portion of said first half and a portion of said second half are retained by said retaining member and such that said cleaning substrate does not interfere with the rotation of said handle relative to said mop head.

25. The cleaning implement of claim 24 wherein said retaining member is substantially adjacent to said tip.

26. The cleaning implement of claim 24 wherein said bumper pad comprises a first and a second tip located on said longitudinal axis of said bumper pad and a first and a second retaining member respectively located adjacent to said first and second tips.

27. The cleaning implement of claim 24 wherein said handle is pivotably connected to said mop head via a universal joint having a first and a second rotational axis.

28. The cleaning implement of claim 24 wherein the distance between said at least one tip and the center of said retaining member measured along said longitudinal axis is less than about 80% of the distance between said tip and the center of said bumper pad measured along said longitudinal axis.

29. A method of cleaning a surface comprising:

providing a disposable cleaning substrate having a first side, a second side, a longitudinal axis, wherein said cleaning substrate comprises a first portion and a second portion symmetrically located relative to said longitudinal axis;

contacting said first side against the bottom surface of the bumper pad of a cleaning implement, wherein said bumper pad comprises;

a longitudinal axis, a front and a back edge and wherein said bumper pad has an elliptical shape defined by said front and back edges, wherein said front and back edges intersect to form at least one tip located on said longitudinal axis; and

at least a retaining member for engaging and retaining said disposable cleaning substrate wherein said retaining member is attached to said bumper pad and is located on said longitudinal axis of said bumper pad;

wrapping said first and second portions of said cleaning substrate on said bumper pad such that said at least one retaining member engages said first and second portions of said cleaning substrate; and

contacting said surface to be cleaned with said second side of said cleaning substrate.

30. A method of cleaning a curved surface with a cleaning implement comprising a mop head for receiving and retaining a cleaning substrate, said mop head including a bumper pad wherein said bumper pad is substantially nonabsorbent and wherein said bumper pad is deformable, and an interconnecting member connected to said bumper pad wherein said interconnecting member is substantially rigid and wherein the “

Rigid to Deformable”

ratio of said mop head is between about 0.1 and about 0.75, said method comprising;

providing a cleaning substrate having a first side, a second side, a longitudinal axis, wherein said cleaning substrate comprises a first portion and a second portion symmetrically located relative to said longitudinal axis;

attaching said cleaning substrate to said mop head such that said cleaning substrate covers at least the bottom surface of said bumper pad; and

contacting said curved surface to be cleaned with said disposable cleaning substrate such that said disposable cleaning substrate conforms to the shape of said curved surface.

31. A motorized cleaning implement for cleaning a surface comprising:

a mop head for receiving and retaining a cleaning substrate and a handle connected to said mop head, said mop head comprising;

a bumper pad having a substantially continuous outer surface; and

an electric motor for causing said bumper pad to move relative to said motor, wherein said motor is operably connected to said bumper pad.

32. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 31 further comprising a cleaning substrate removably attachable to said mop head.

33. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 32 wherein said cleaning substrate is disposable and comprises a nonwoven material.

34. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 33 wherein said disposable cleaning substrate is pre-impregnated with a cleaning composition.

35. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 31 wherein said handle includes at least one battery electrically connected to said electric motor.

36. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 35 wherein said bumper pad is attached to a sliding member and wherein said motor is operably connected to said sliding member.

37. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 36 wherein said mop head comprises a rotating drive, wherein said motor is operably connected to said rotating drive and wherein said rotating drive causes said sliding member to move longitudinally relative to said handle.

38. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 31 wherein said bumper pad is substantially deformable.

39. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 38 wherein said bumper pad is made of a substantially nonabsorbent material.

40. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 39 wherein said bumper pad comprises at least a one tip portion.

41. A motorized cleaning implement for cleaning a surface comprising:

a mop head for receiving and retaining a cleaning substrate, said mop head having a top and a bottom surface, said mop head comprising;

an electric motor for causing said bottom surface of said mop head to move relative to said motor, wherein said motor is operably connected to said top surface of said mop head; and

a handle pivotably connected to said mop head by at least one pivotal connection.

42. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 41 further comprising at least one battery, wherein said battery is electrically connected to said motor.

43. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 42 wherein said battery is located within said handle.

44. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 43 wherein said battery is electrically connected to said motor by electric cables, wherein a portion of said electric cables is located within said pivotal connection.

45. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 41 wherein said handle is resiliently connected to said mop head

46. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 41 wherein said handle comprises a fork portion having first and second leg members defining a volume in between, wherein at least a portion of said motor occupies said volume when said handle is pivoted downwardly.

47. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 41 further comprising a cleaning substrate removably attachable to said mop head.

48. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 47 wherein said cleaning substrate is disposable and comprises a nonwoven material.

49. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 48 wherein said disposable cleaning substrate is pre-impregnated with a cleaning composition.

50. A motorized cleaning implement for cleaning a surface comprising:

a mop head for receiving and retaining a cleaning substrate said mop head having substantially continuous bottom and at least a first and a second side surface, and a handle connected to said mop head, said mop head comprising an electric motor for causing said substantially continuous bottom and first and second side surfaces to move relative to said motor, wherein said motor is operably connected to said continuous bottom and side surfaces; and

a cleaning substrate releasably attached to said mop head such that said cleaning substrates covers at least a portion of the bottom surface and at least a portion of said first and second side surfaces of said mop head.

51. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 50 wherein substantially continuous bottom and side surfaces are part of a bumper pad, wherein said bumper pad is made of a deformable material such that said cleaning substrate and said bumper pad conform to the shape of a curved surface when said cleaning substrate and said bumper pad are applied against said curved surface.

52. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 51 wherein said bumper pad includes a tip portion defined by a top, bottom and at least two side portions of said bumper pad and wherein said cleaning substrate covers said tip portion.

53. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 52 wherein said electric motor causes said bumper pad to move along a longitudinal axis relative to said motor and wherein said tip portion is adjacent to said longitudinal axis.

54. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 50 wherein said electric motor causes said bumper pad to move along a longitudinal axis relative to said motor and at least a portion of said first side is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis.

55. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 54 wherein at least a portion of said second side is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis.

56. A motorized cleaning implement for use with a cleaning substrate, comprising:

a mop head for receiving and retaining a cleaning substrate, said mop head comprising;

a bumper pad wherein said bumper pad is substantially deformable;

an interconnecting member attached to said bumper pad wherein said interconnecting member is substantially rigid such that the mop head has a “

Rigid to Deformable”

ratio of between about 0.1 and about 0.75;

an electric motor for causing said interconnecting member and said bumper pad to move relative to said motor, wherein said motor is operably connected to said interconnecting member; and

a cleaning substrate wherein said cleaning substrate is removably attachable to said bumper pad.

57. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 56, wherein the “

Rigid to Deformable”

ratio of said mop head is between about 0.15 and about 0.7.

58. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 57 wherein the “

Rigid to Deformable”

ratio of said mop head is between about 0.15 and about 0.65.

59. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 56 wherein said bumper pad is made of a substantially nonabsorbent material.

60. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 56 wherein said interconnecting member is a sliding member that is movable along a longitudinal axis.

61. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 60 wherein said bumper pad includes a tip portion adjacent said longitudinal axis and said cleaning substrate covers at least a portion of said tip portion.

62. The motorized cleaning implement of claim 56 wherein said bumper pad has a substantially continuous outer surface.

63. A cleaning implement for cleaning surfaces comprising:

a head for receiving and retaining a cleaning substrate, said head having a top, bottom and at least a side surface, said head including a tensioning mechanism comprising a male element and a female element, wherein said male element operably engages said female element; and

a cleaning substrate having top and a bottom layer forming a pocket wherein at least a portion of said top layer is located between said male element sand said female element.

64. The cleaning implement of claim 63 wherein said male element includes a protruding portion and said female element includes a recessed portion.

65. The cleaning implement of claim 64 wherein said female element is operably connected to said male element such that said tensioning mechanism is in a closed position when said protruding portion engages said recessed portion and wherein said tensioning mechanism is in an open position when said protruding portion does not engage said recessed portion.

66. The cleaning implement of claim 65 wherein female element is pivotably connected to said male element.

67. The cleaning implement of claim 65 wherein said protruding portion and said recessed portion are separated by a gap when said tensioning mechanism is in a closed position.

68. The cleaning implement of claim 67 wherein the length of said gap is between about 0.1 mm and about 10 mm.

69. The cleaning implement of claim 63 wherein at least a portion of said head is located within said pocket such that said cleaning substrate covers at least partially said top, bottom and at least one side surface of said head.

70. The cleaning implement of claim 63 further comprising an electric motor operably connected to said head and wherein said motor causes at least said bottom surface of said head and at least a portion of said cleaning substrate to move relative to said motor.