Cleaning aid storage mop

• US 6,098,239 A
• Filed: 12/22/1999
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quickie Manufacturing Corp. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Quickie Manufacturing Corp. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Vosbikian, Peter S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/469,775
• Time in Patent Office: 230 Days
• Field of Search: 15/228, 15/231, 15/232
• US Class Current: 15/228
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/254 Plate frames
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/40 Cleaning implements actuated by electrostatic attraction; Devices for cleaning same; Magnetic cleaning implements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/44 Securing scouring-cloths to the brush or like body of the implement
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/46 Securing scouring or polishing cloths or sponges to the handles by gripping means, tongs, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/51 Storing of cleaning tools, e.g. containers therefor

Abstract

A dust mop with a handle and mop and attached mop head which contains one or more compartments. The compartments within the base of the mop head are used to store replacement electrostatic dust accumulating cleaning sheets. As the cleaning sheet in use on the mop head becomes full of dust, it is removed from the mop head and discarded. A fresh sheet is simply and conveniently retrieved from a compartment in the mop head and immediately replaced on the cleaning surface of the mop head. There is no interruption of work or downtime in searching for a replacement sheet or finding one in a remote location. This mop head configuration provides an efficient and effective apparatus of performing the dust mopping procedure. Different mop bases are disclosed which employ several alternate devices for removal of cleaning sheets from the mop head.

Claims

1. A mop comprising a handle attached to a cleaning head, said cleaning head comprising:

a cleaning surface and

mop base means for supporting the cleaning surface, said mop base means comprising;

a. handle connection means for securing the handle to said mop base means;

b. compartment means formed within the mop base means for containing and storing cleaning aids; and

c. cleaning aid attachment means for maintaining an in-use cleaning aid in position over the cleaning head.

2. A mop as in claim 1 wherein the cleaning aid attachment means maintains the in-use cleaning aid in position over the cleaning surface.

3. A mop as in claim 1 wherein the cleaning surface is a fabric-like pad, detachably connected to the mop base means by pad attachment means.

4. A mop as in claim 3 wherein the pad attachment means comprises a snap connection device.

5. A mop as in claim 1 wherein the cleaning surface is a foam-like pad attached to the mop base means.

6. A mop as in claim 1 wherein the compartment means is located totally within the confines of the mop base means and over the cleaning surface.

7. A mop as in claim 1 wherein the compartment means is an enclosed space within the mop base means.

8. A mop as in claim 7 wherein the cleaning head further comprises cleaning aid insert means for placement, by insertion, into the enclosed space within the mop base means.

9. A mop as in claim 8 wherein the insert means is configured to contain stored cleaning aids.

10. A mop as in claim 8 wherein the mop base means further comprises insert locking means for securing the insert means within the mop base means.

11. A mop as in claim 9 wherein the cleaning aids comprise cleaning sheets contained and stored in the insert means.

12. A mop as in claim 10 wherein the insert locking means comprises a tab locking system.

13. A mop as in claim 8 wherein the mop base means further comprises a bottom floor means pivotally connected to the mop base means which, when the floor means is opened, the insert means may be inserted and placed within the mop base means or removed from the mop base means.

14. A mop as in claim 13 wherein the mop base means further comprises insert locking means for securing the insert means within the mop base means.

15. A mop as in claim 14 wherein the insert locking means comprises a tab locking system.

16. A mop as in claim 1 wherein the mop base means further comprises covers located over and enclosing the compartment means.

17. A mop as in claim 16 wherein the covers are pivotally connected to the base means, allowing opening of the compartment means for the placement and removal of cleaning aids.

18. A mop as in claim 1 wherein the compartment means comprises dual compartment spaces.

19. A mop as in claim 1 wherein the mop base means further comprises opening means located over the compartment means for permitting removal of cleaning aids from the cleaning head.

20. A mop as in claim 19 wherein the opening means are located in covers over the compartment means.

21. A mop as in claim 20 wherein the opening means comprise dispensing slots through which cleaning aids are removed from the compartment means.

22. A mop as in claim 1 wherein the cleaning aids comprise cleaning sheets.

23. A mop as in claim 22 wherein the cleaning sheets are configured to be folded and stored in the compartment means.

24. A mop as in claim 22 wherein the cleaning sheets are located in the compartment means and the compartment means comprises covers with opening means through which the cleaning sheets are removed from the compartment means.

25. A mop as in claim 22 wherein the base means further comprises cleaning sheet roller means for storing and dispensing cleaning sheets from the mop base means.

26. A mop as in claim 25 wherein the roller means is located in the compartment means.

27. A mop as in claim 26 wherein the roller means is enclosed within the compartment means by a cover overlying the compartment means.

28. A mop as in claim 27 wherein the cover comprises a dispensing slot for removal of cleaning sheets.

29. A mop as in claim 25 wherein the mop base means further comprises a bottom door means pivotally connected to the mop base means which, when the door means is opened, the roller means may be inserted and placed within the mop base means or removed from the mop base means.

30. A mop as in claim 29 wherein the mop base means further comprises roller door locking means for securing the door means and maintaining the roller means within the mop base means.

31. A mop as in claim 30 wherein the roller door locking means comprises a tab locking system.

32. A mop as in claim 22 wherein the cleaning aid attachment means secures and maintains an in-use cleaning sheet in position over the cleaning surface.

33. A mop as in claim 32 wherein the cleaning aid attachment means comprises resilient, flexibly biased members which hold the in-use cleaning sheet in place over the cleaning surface.

34. A mop comprising a handle attached to a cleaning head, said cleaning head comprising:

a cleaning surface;

a cleaning sheet overlying the cleaning surface; and

a mop base attached to the cleaning surface, said mop base comprising;

a. handle connection means for securing the handle to said mop base;

b. compartment means formed within the confines of the mop base for containing and storing extra cleaning sheets; and

c. cleaning sheet attachment means for maintaining an in-use cleaning sheet in position overlying the cleaning surface.

35. The mop as in claim 34 wherein the cleaning surface is a fabric-like pad, detachably connected to the mop base by pad attachment means.

36. A mop as in claim 35 wherein the pad attachment means comprises a snap device.

37. A mop as in claim 34 wherein the cleaning surface is a foam-like pad attached to the mop base.

38. The mop as in claim 34 wherein the base further comprises covers which are pivotally mounted to the mop base over the compartment means, allowing opening of the compartment means for the placement and removal of cleaning sheets.

39. The mop as in claim 34 wherein the compartment means comprises dual compartment spaces.

40. A mop as in claim 34 wherein the mop base further comprises opening means located over the compartment means for permitting removal of the stored cleaning sheets from the cleaning head.

41. A mop as in claim 40 wherein the opening means are located in covers over the compartment means.

42. A mop as in claim 41 wherein the opening means comprises dispensing slots through which the cleaning sheets are removed from the compartment means.

43. A mop as in claim 34 wherein the stored cleaning sheets are configured to be folded and located in the compartment means.

44. A mop as in claim 34 wherein the cleaning sheets are located in the compartment means and the compartment means comprises covers with opening means through which the extra stored cleaning sheets are removed from the compartment means.

45. A mop as in claim 34 wherein the base further comprises cleaning sheet roller means for storing and dispensing the cleaning sheets from the mop base.

46. A mop as in claim 45 wherein the roller means is located in the compartment means.

47. A mop as in claim 45 wherein the roller means is enclosed within the compartment means by a cover overlying the compartment means.

48. A mop as in claim 47 wherein the covet comprises a dispensing slot for removal of cleaning sheets.

49. A mop as in claim 45 wherein the mop base further comprises a bottom door means pivotally connected to the mop base which, when the door means is opened, the roller means may be inserted and placed within the mop base or removed from the mop base.

50. A mop as in claim 49 wherein the mop base further comprises roller door locking means for securing the door means and maintaining the roller means within the mop base.

51. A mop as in claim 50 wherein the roller door locking means comprises a tab locking system.

52. A mop as in claim 34 wherein the compartment means is an enclosed space within the mop base.

53. A mop as in claim 52 wherein the cleaning head further comprises cleaning sheet insert means for placement, by insertion, into the enclosed space within the mop base.

54. A mop as in claim 53 wherein the insert means is configured to contain and store cleaning sheets.

55. A mop as in claim 53 wherein the mop base further comprises insert locking means for securing the insert means within the mop base.

56. A mop as in claim 55 wherein the insert locking means comprises a tab locking system.

57. A mop as in claim 53 wherein the mop base further comprises a bottom floor means pivotally connected to the mop base which, when the floor means is opened, the insert means may be inserted and placed within the mop base or removed from the mop base.

58. A mop as in claim 57 wherein the mop base further comprises insert locking means for securing the insert means within the mop base.

59. A mop as in claim 58 wherein the insert locking means comprises a tab locking system.

60. A mop as in claim 34 wherein the cleaning aid attachment means comprises resilient, flexibly biased members which hold a cleaning sheet in place on the mop base over the cleaning surface.