Disposable mop

• US 4,971,471 A
• Filed: 01/05/1990
• Issued: 11/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David B. Sloan
• Original Assignee: David B. Sloan
• Inventors: Sloan, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US07/462,865
• Time in Patent Office: 319 Days
• Field of Search: 401/139, 401/140, 401/132, 401/196, 401/203, 401/204, 401/205, 401/207, 401/261, 401/263, 401/265, 401/266, 401/268, 401/270, 401/271, 401/279, 401/280, 401/282-289, 15/24, 15/29, 15/104, 15/93, 15/94, 15/147 R, 15/147 A, 15/209 R, 15/221, 15/228, 15/229.3, 15/244.1-244.4
• US Class Current: 401/203
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/24 Frames for mops; Mop heads handles B25G
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/312 supplied with liquid wax or oil

Abstract

A mop assembly is provided for the continuous application of wax and cleaning fluids which utilizes a detachable, disposable plenum incorporated into a disposable sponge mop. The disposable plenum has a plurality of substantially uniformly-spaced openings which provide for a substantially uniform distribution of fluid entering into the sponge. The disposable mop also has a substantially impermeable backing layer which shields the mop head and other non-disposable parts from wax, cleaning fluid, and residue present in the sponge. The disposable mop eliminates the problems associated with clogging of the openings in the non-disposable plenums currently in use, and substantially reduces the amount and frequency of required cleaning of the mop head and other non-disposable parts.

Claims

1. A disposable mop comprising:

a first layer comprising a sponge material,

a second layer comprising a material which is substantially impermeable to waxes and cleaning fluids;

a disposable plenum between the first and second layers having a plurality of openings for distributing fluid into the sponge material;

a backing layer adjacent to the substantially impermeable layer; and

a layer positioned such that the sponge material layer is between the cloth material layer and the plenum of cloth material adjacent to the sponge material layer;

the layers being joined at respective edges of the layers such that the substantially impermeable layer, the plenum and the sponge material layer are substantially enclosed between the backing layer, said layers and said plenum forming a unitary disposable assembly and the cloth material layer.

2. The disposable mop of claim 1 wherein the sponge material comprises polyurethane foam.

3. The disposable mop of claim 1 wherein the sponge material comprises cotton.

4. The disposable mop of claim 1 wherein the substantially impermeable layer comprises closed cell polyethylene foam.

5. The disposable mop of claim 1 wherein the disposable plenum comprises a long tubular portion having said plurality of openings positioned substantially uniformly along its length and a short tubular portion about perpendicular to the long tubular portion for connection to a fluid supply line, said short tubular portion extending upward through an opening in said second layer.

6. The disposable mop of claim 1 wherein the substantially impermeable layer and the backing layer comprise an integral unit.

7. The disposable mop of claim 1 wherein the backing layer comprises a flexible plastic material.

8. The disposable mop of claim 1 wherein the backing layer comprises paper.

9. The disposable mop of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive layer for fastening the disposable mop to a mop head.

10. The disposable mop of claim 1 further comprising a removable, disposable protective cloth for providing limited protection from dirt.

11. A mop assembly for distributing fluid in a substantially continuous fashion comprising:

a mop handle;

a mop head;

means for connecting the mop handle to the mop head allowing movement of the mop head relative to the mop handle;

a disposable mop connected to the mop head comprising a first layer of sponge material, a second layer of material which is substantially impermeable to waxes and cleaning fluids, a disposable plenum between the first and second layers having a plurality of openings for distributing fluid into the sponge material, a backing layer adjacent to the substantially impermeable layer positioned such that the sponge material layer is between the cloth material layer and the plenum, and a cloth layer adjacent to the sponge material layer, the layers being joined such that the substantially impermeable layer, the plenum, and the sponge material layer are substantially enclosed between the backing layer and the cloth layer, said layers and said plenum forming a unitary disposable assembly,

a fluid reservoir;

a fluid supply line connecting the fluid reservoir to the disposable plenum; and

a valve assembly for regulating the flow of fluid through the supply line.

12. The mop assembly of claim 11 wherein the disposable plenum comprises a long tubular portion having said plurality of openings positioned substantially uniformly along its length and a short tubular portion about perpendicular to the long tubular portion, said short tubular portion extending upward through an opening in said second layer and connecting to said fluid supply line.

13. The mop assembly of claim 11 wherein the disposable mop is fastened to the mop head by means of an adhesive.

14. The mop assembly of claim 11 wherein the disposable mop is fastened to the mop head by means of fastener hook and loop type strips.

15. The mop assembly of claim 11 wherein the mop handle comprises a hollow tube and wherein the fluid supply line passes through said hollow tube.

16. The mop assembly of claim 11 wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a 21/2 gallon plastic container.

17. The mop assembly of claim 11 further comprising a backpack for containing the fluid reservoir during use.

18. The mop assembly of claim 11 wherein the fluid supply line comprises a flexible plastic tube.

19. The mop assembly of claim 11 wherein the valve assembly comprises a stopcock valve.