Cleaning pad

• US 20070256266A1
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Butler Home Products LLC (Bradshaw International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Butler Home Products LLC (Bradshaw International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dunn, Thomas, Michelson, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,721,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/228
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops

Abstract

A cleaning pad is adapted to be releasably retained on a cleaning implement which includes on its cleaning head either multiple strips of pile-type fastener material or a plurality of attachment structures. The cleaning pad includes a top layer constructed of polyethylene and a bottom layer constructed of rayon. The top and bottom layers are affixed together along their peripheries by a bond line so as to define an enclosed pocket therebetween which is sized and shaped to receive a middle layer constructed of wood pulp paper. Multiple strips of hook-type fastener material are secured on the top layer and are adapted to releasably engage complimentary strips of pile-type fastener material on the cleaning implement. One or more mounting tabs are secured on the bottom layer and are adapted to releasably engage complimentary attachment structures on the cleaning implement. Each mounting tab can be disposed between a retracted, or folded, position and an extended, or unfolded, position.

Claims

1. A cleaning pad adapted to be releasably retained on a cleaning implement, the cleaning implement comprising a cleaning head and at least one of a fastener material and an attachment structure coupled to the cleaning head, the cleaning pad comprising:

a fastener material adapted to engage the fastener material on the cleaning implement; and

a mounting tab adapted to engage the attachment structure on the cleaning implement, the mounting tab defining a lower flap, a portion of which is secured to the cleaning pad, and an upper flap movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein a portion of the upper flap is releasably secured to a portion of the lower flap in the retracted position and is releasably retained by the attachment structure in the extended position.

2. The cleaning pad according to in claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a top layer; and

(b) a bottom layer coupled to the top layer.

3. The cleaning pad according to in claim 2 further comprising a middle layer disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer.

4. The cleaning pad according to in claim 3 wherein the top layer is affixed to the bottom layer so as to define a pocket therebetween, and the middle layer is disposed within the pocket.

6. The cleaning pad according to in claim 2 wherein the top layer is manufactured out of polyethylene.

7. The cleaning pad according to in claim 2 wherein the bottom layer is manufactured out of rayon.

8. The cleaning pad according to in claim 2 wherein the bottom layer is provided with a pattern of apertures.

9. The cleaning pad according to in claim 8 wherein the pattern of apertures extends through the thickness of the bottom layer.

10. The cleaning pad according to in claim 9 wherein the pattern of apertures are configured into (i) a plurality of parallel, equidistantly-spaced apart vertical columns, each vertical column alternating a single oval-shaped aperture with a single circular-shaped aperture along its entire length, (ii) a plurality of parallel, equidistantly-spaced apart horizontal rows, each horizontal row alternating a single oval-shaped aperture with a single circular-shaped aperture along its entire length, or (iii) any combination thereof.

11. The cleaning pad according to in claim 2 wherein the fastener material is formed into one or more strips which are secured onto the outer surface of the top layer.

12. The cleaning pad according to in claim 11 wherein the fastener material is constructed out of pile-type fastener material.

13. The cleaning pad according to in claim 11 wherein the fastener material is constructed out of polyester.

14. The cleaning pad according to in claim 2 wherein the mounting tab is secured onto the outer surface of the bottom layer.

15. The cleaning pad according to in claim 14 wherein a portion of the lower flap is secured onto the bottom layer by an adhesive.

16. The cleaning pad according to in claim 15 wherein an adhesive secures the upper flap to the lower flap, the strength of the adhesive bond between the lower flap and the bottom layer being greater than the adhesive bond between the upper flap and the lower flap.

17. The cleaning pad according to in claim 2 wherein the upper flap includes a free end which extends out from the outer periphery of the bottom layer a distance of approximately 0.6 cm when the upper flap is in its retracted position.

18. The cleaning pad according to in claim 2 wherein the mounting tab is manufactured out of rayon.

5. The cleaning pad according to in 3 wherein the middle layer is manufactured out of three sheets of wood pulp paper.

19. A cleaning pad adapted to be releasably retained on a cleaning implement, the cleaning implement comprising a cleaning head and at least one of a fastener material and an attachment structure coupled to the cleaning head, the cleaning pad comprising:

at least two layers including a top layer and a bottom layer;

a fastener material secured to the top layer and adapted to engage the fastener material on the cleaning implement; and

a mounting tab adapted to engage the attachment structure on the cleaning implement, the mounting tab defining a lower flap secured to the bottom layer of the cleaning pad and an upper flap movable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein a portion of the upper flap is releasably secured to a portion of the lower flap in the retracted position and is releasably retained by the attachment structure in the extended position.

20. A cleaning pad adapted to be releasably retained on a cleaning implement, the cleaning implement comprising a cleaning head and at least one of a fastener material and an attachment structure coupled to the cleaning head, the cleaning pad comprising:

at least two layers including a top layer and a bottom layer;

a fastener material secured to the outer surface of the top layer and adapted to engage the fastener material on the cleaning implement; and

a mounting tab adapted to engage the attachment structure on the cleaning implement;

wherein (i) the mounting tab can be disposed between a retracted position and an extended position, (ii) the mounting tab is folded about a fold line so as to define a lower flap and an upper flap (iii) the mounting tab is secured onto the outer surface of the bottom layer and (iv) an adhesive secures a portion of the lower flap onto the bottom layer and secures a portion of the upper flap onto a portion of the lower flap, the strength of the adhesive bond between the lower flap and the bottom layer being greater than the adhesive bond between the upper flap and the lower flap