Cleaning implements having structures for retaining a sheet

• US 6,651,290 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Strickland, Wilbur Cecil, Kingry, Gary William, Hardy, Michael Earl
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US10/216,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20020184726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 151/442, 152/28, 152/31, 152/32, D32/40, D32/50
• US Class Current: 15/231
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/256 for mops made of cloth
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/46 Securing scouring or polishing cloths or sponges to the handles by gripping means, tongs, or the like

Abstract

A cleaning implement, such as a floor mop, is provided. The cleaning implement includes a handle and a cleaning head attached to the handle. The cleaning head has at least one attachment structure for receiving and retaining a sheet about the cleaning head. The attachment structure includes a base triangle and a plurality of substantially pie-shaped sections whose apexes meet at a substantially common point adjacent the base triangle. Two sides of the base triangle and two sides of each of the pie-shaped sections are defined by slits passing through the flexible material forming the attachment structure such that the base triangle and each of the pie-shaped sections can be deflected to receive the sheet.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement for use wit a sheet, comprising:

a handle;

a cleaning head attached to said handle;

at least one attachment structure disposed on said cleaning head for receiving and retaining a sheet about said cleaning head, wherein said attachment structure is formed from a flexible material and wherein said attachment structure further comprises a plurality of substantially pie-shaped sections having an apex and two sides wherein said two sides of each of said pie-shaped sections are defined by slits passing through said flexible material such tat each of said pie-shaped sections can be deflected to engage a portion of the sheet and wherein each of said slits terminates at one end wit a substantially circular opening opposed from said apex and wherein at least one of said pie-shaped sections has a first and a second side such that the length of said first side is greater than the length of said second side.

2. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein said circular openings can prevent stress-cracking of said flexible material.

3. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said pie-shaped sections pierce said sheet when a portion of said sheet is pushed through said attachment structure.

4. The cleaning implement of claim 3, wherein said attachment structure comprises between about 4 and about 10 pie-shaped sections.

5. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein said cleaning head comprises a plurality of said attachment structures.

6. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said flexible material is made of polyethylene.

7. The cleaning implement of claim 1 further comprising a sheet.

8. The cleaning implement of claim 7 wherein said sheet is attached to said cleaning head such that at least one of said pie-shaped sections penetrates said sheet.

9. The cleaning implement of claim 8 wherein said sheet comprises a scrim.

10. A method of securing a cleaning sheet to a mop head comprising at least one attachment structure disposed about said mop head for receiving and retaining said sheet wherein said attachment structure has a top surface and is formed from a flexible material and wherein said attachment structure further comprises a plurality of substantially pie-shaped sections having an apex wherein two sides of each of said pie-shaped sections are defined by slits passing through said flexible material such that each of said pie-shaped sections can be deflected to engage a portion of the sheet and wherein each of said slits terminates at one end with a substantially circular opening and wherein at least one of said substantially pie-shaped sections is asymmetrical, said method comprising the step of:

pushing a portion of a sheet past the top surface of said attachment structure such that said pie-shaped sections of said attachment structure are deflected and engage said sheet.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said circular openings can prevent stress-cracking of said flexible material.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said cleaning head comprises four of said attachment structures.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said attachment structure comprises between about 4 and about 10 pie-shaped sections.

14.The method of claim 10 wherein said flexible material is made of polyethylene.

14. A method of securing a cleaning sheet to a mop head comprising at least one attachment structure disposed about said mop head for receiving and retaining said sheet, wherein said attachment structure is formed from a flexible material and wherein said attachment structure further comprises a plurality of substantially pie-shaped sections having an apex wherein two sides of each of said pie-shaped sections are defined by slits passing through said flexible material such that each of said pie-shaped sections can be deflected to engage a portion of the sheet and wherein each of said slits terminates at one end with a substantially circular opening, said method comprising the steps of:

deflecting said pie-shaped sections of said attachment structure wit a portion of a sheet such that at least one of said pie-shaped sections passes trough said sheet.

15. The method of claim 15, wherein said circular openings can prevent stress-cracking of said flexible material.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said cleaning head comprises four of said attachment structures.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said attachment structure comprises between about 4 and about 10 pie-shaped sections.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said flexible material is made of polyethylene.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein at least one of said pie-shaped sections is asymmetrical.