Dust mop with replaceable electrostatically

• US 6,243,909 B1
• Filed: 05/17/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barbara Graham, Katherine L. Kilman, Robert L. Graham
• Original Assignee: Barbara Graham, Katherine L. Kilman, Robert L. Graham
• Inventors: Graham, Barbara, Kilman, Katherine L., Graham, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Randall E.
• Application Number:
  US09/313,239
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 15/15.2, 152/28, 152/31
• US Class Current: 15/228
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/40 Cleaning implements actuated by electrostatic attraction; Devices for cleaning same; Magnetic cleaning implements

Abstract

A dust mop features a dust collector layer made of electrostatically charged nonwoven fabric. The electrostatic charge (a) enables the dust collector to be detachably mounted to the mop head by electrostatic cling; and (b) improves the dust collecting ability of the dust collector.

Claims

1. A dust mop comprising

(a) a handle;

(b) a mop head secured to one end of the handle;

(c) a cover made of a fabric mounted on the head, and having a downwardly facing surface; and

(d) an electrostatically charged thermoplastic nonwoven fabric detachably mounted on the downwardly facing surface of said cover, said electrostatically charged nonwoven fabric having a persistent electrostatic charge imparted thereon by passing the fabric or fibers thereof through an electric field.

2. The mop of claim 1 wherein the cover is padded.

3. The mop of claim 1 wherein the head is rigid.

4. The mop of claim 1 wherein the surface charge on the nonwoven fabric is between −

2500 to +2500 v.

5. The mop of claim 1 wherein the nonwoven is selected from the group consisting of meltblown and spunbond fabrics.

6. The mop of claim 5 wherein the fiber size of the nonwoven fabric is between 1 to 50 microns and the fabric has a basis weight between 0.5 to 5 oz/yd².

7. The mop of claim 1 wherein the head is pivotally mounted on said one end of the handle.

8. The mop of claim 1 wherein the nonwoven fabric is a meltblown fabric having fibers between 1 to 20 microns and having a basis weight between.0.75 to 5 oz/yd².

9. The mop of claim 1 wherein the nonwoven is made of polypropylene fibers.

10. The mop of claim 1 wherein the electrostatically charged nonwoven fabric has an inner surface in contact with the cover and an outer surface exposed for contacting a surface to be mopped, the inner and outer surfaces each carrying an electrostatic charge whereby the inner surface clings to the cover and the outer surface attracts dust particles.

11. The mop of claim 1 wherein the cover is detachably mounted on the head and is a woven fabric of cotton, wool, and synthetics.

12. A mop comprising

(a) an elongate handle;

(b) a rigid head pivotally connected to one end of the handle and having a generally flat downwardly facing surface;

(c) a cloth cover detachably mounted on the head to substantially cover the downwardly facing surface of said head; and

(d) a disposable dust collector layer detachably mounted on the cover, said collector layer comprising an electrostatically charged thermoplastic nonwoven fabric having an inner surface in contact with the cloth cover and an outer downwardly layer surface for collecting dust, the nonwoven fabric having fibers between 1 to 50 microns and carrying an electrostatic charge imparted by passing the nonwoven fabric or fibers thereof through an electrostatic field to impart an electrostatic charge on the inner and outer surface of said nonwoven fabric whereby the inner surface clings to the cloth and the outer surface attracts dust particles.