FLAT MOP WITH ABRASIVE PAD

• US 20100205758A1
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Leafblad, Brian R., Mattia, Paul J., Levitt, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/105
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/12 Implements with several different treating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/256 for mops made of cloth

Abstract

A cleaning device that includes a first component, a second component and a handle is provided. The first component is configured to hold a first portion of the cleaning device. The second component is configured to hold a second portion of the cleaning device. The first and second components are connected and are configured so that the first portion and the second portion on the respective first and second components are independently replaceable. The handle is coupled to the second component to control an application of at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the cleaning device on a surface to be cleaned.

Claims

1. A cleaning device comprising:

a first component configured to hold a first portion of the cleaning device;

a second component configured to hold a second portion of the cleaning device, the first and second components being connected, wherein the first and second components are configured so that the first portion and the second portion on the respective first and second components are independently replaceable; and

a handle coupled to the second component to control an application of at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the cleaning device on a surface to be cleaned.

2. The cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the first portion is mop portion and the second portion is a scrub pad.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second component is configured to move the second portion to engage a floor surface when a select amount of force is exerted on the handle in a direction towards the second component.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising:

a first retaining bracket; and

a second retaining bracket, the first and second retaining brackets configured to movably couple the first component to the second component.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second brackets include:

a first portion having at least one aperture used to connect the respective bracket to the first component; and

a second portion having at least one aperture used to slideable connect the respective bracket to the second component.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising:

a fastener extending through each aperture in the first portion of the first and second brackets, each fastener configured to threadably engage a threaded bore in the first component;

a retaining guide member extending through each aperture in the second portion of the first and second brackets, each retaining guide member having a head end and a threaded end, the threaded end of each retaining guide member threadably engaging a threaded bore in the second component; and

a biasing member for each retaining guide member, each biasing member received around a mid portion of an associated retaining guide member, each biasing member having a first end abutting a first surface of a second portion of an associated first and second bracket, each biasing member further having a second end abutting the head of an associated retaining guide member, wherein each biasing member biases its associated retaining guide member to position the second component to proximate a second surface of the second portion of the first and second brackets.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein each biasing member is a spring configured to compress when a force is exerted on the handle therein allowing the scrub pad on the second component to contact a floor surface.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the second component is formed from a material that deflects when a force is exerted on the handle to cause the second portion to engage the surface to be cleaned.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the second component further comprises:

a first portion having a cross-sectional dome shape;

a pad engaging portion configured to retain the second portion; and

a support coupled between the first portion and the pad engaging portion, wherein the support portion pushes the pad engaging portion towards the floor surface when the first portion deflects.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second components are coupled to each other by a hook and loop faster connection.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein one of the hook and loop portions of the hook and loop fastener is used as the second portion.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the hook and loop fastener is configured to be released by placing a foot on the first component and pulling on the handle.

13. The device of claim 1, further including:

a window in the first component that allows an operator to view the surface to be cleaned while in use.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

the first component and the second component having a first configuration and second configuration, the first configuration being a cleaning configuration and the second configuration being a scrubbing configuration.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the first component has a perimeter and an aperture within the perimeter, the second component having an active and an inactive position, the second component extending at least partially through the aperture when moved between the active and inactive positions.

16. A floor cleaning device comprising:

a first component configured to hold a mop portion of the cleaning device;

a second component configured to hold a scrub pad of cleaning device, the second component having a first inactive position and a second active position, and

handle coupled to the second component to control an application of the mop portion and the scrub pad of the cleaning device.

17. The floor cleaning device of claim 16, wherein the second component is configured to move from the first inactive position to the second active position by applying a select amount of force on the handle in the direction of the second component.

18. The floor cleaning device of claim 17, further comprising:

at least one biasing device configured to retain the second component in the first inactive position when the select amount of force is not applied to the handle.

19. The floor cleaning device of claim 16, wherein the second component is located within a boundary defined by an outer perimeter of the first component such that the scrub pad held by the second component is surrounded by the mop portion held by the first component on all sides at least when the second component is in the inactive position.

20. The floor cleaning device of claim 16, wherein the second component is configured to move from the first inactive position to the second active position by disconnecting a connection between the first component and the second component.

21. The floor cleaning device of claim 20, wherein the connection between the first and second components is selected from the group consisting of a hook and loop connection, a chemical connection, a magnetic connection and a mechanical connection.

22. A flat mop with an abrasive pad device comprising:

a first component configured to engage a flat mop;

a second component configured to engage an abrasive pad, the second component movably connected to the first component in a vertical direction between an inactive position and an active position, the second component further positioned within a boundary defined by an outer perimeter of the first component such that the abrasive pad is surrounded by at least a portion of the flat mop in all horizontal directions at least when the second component is in the active position, the flop mop and the abrasive pad being independently interchangeable on the respective first and second components;

a biasing member configured to provide a biasing force to position the second component in the inactive position when the abrasive pad is not in use, wherein in the inactive position the abrasive pad is raised a select vertical distance from a floor surface; and

a handle coupled to the second component to control movement of the device over the floor surface, the handle further configured to force the second component into the active position so the abrasive pad engages the floor surface by applying a select amount of pressure to the second component to counter the biasing force supplied by the biasing member.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the biasing member further comprises:

a first bracket having a first section operatively connected to the first component and a second section having at least one guide aperture;

a first retaining guide member for each guide aperture of the first bracket, the first retaining guide member having a head end, an engaging end and a mid portion positioned between the head end and the engaging end, the mid portion of the first retaining guide member received in an associated guide aperture of the second section of the first bracket, the engaging portion of each first retaining guide member being engaged with the first component;

a first spring for each first retaining guide member, the first spring positioned around the mid portion of the first retaining guide member between the head end of the first retaining guide member and the second component;

a second bracket having a first section coupled to the first component and a second section having at least one guide aperture;

a second retaining guide member for each guide aperture of the second bracket, the second retaining guide member having a head end, an engaging end and a mid portion positioned between the head end and the engaging end, the mid portion of the second retaining guide member received in an associated guide aperture of the second section of the second bracket, the engaging portion of each second retaining guide member being engaged with the first component; and

a second spring for each second retaining guide member, the second spring positioned around the mid portion of the second retaining guide member between the head end of the second retaining guide member and the second component.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the biasing member further comprises:

at least one pliable portion of the second component configured to deflect under an applied force to place the abrasive pad in the active position.