Cleaning implement for cleaning a surface

• US 7,096,531 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Policicchio, Nicola John
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/682,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20040068817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 151/441, 151/442, 152/101, 152/091, 152/26, 152/442, 152/31, 152/32, 152/28
• US Class Current: 15/228
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/16 Cloths; Pads; Sponges metal scraping sponges A47L13/07
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/254 Plate frames
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/256 for mops made of cloth
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/51 Storing of cleaning tools, e.g. containers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 25/005 using adhesive or tacky surfaces to remove dirt, e.g. lint removers
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 1/06 reversible or adjustable for position
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/28 and associated with receptacle hodlers
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/049 Cleaning or scouring pads; Wipes
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/227 of hydrocarbons, or reaction products thereof, e.g. afterhalogenated or sulfochlorinated
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/263 of unsaturated carboxylic acids; Salts or esters thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/333 of vinyl acetate; Polyvinylalcohol
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/693 with natural or synthetic rubber, or derivatives thereof

Abstract

A cleaning implement for hard surface cleaning is provided. This cleaning implement includes a handle, a mop head pivotably attached to said handle, and which has a pad forming a bottom surface, and at least one elevational element removably attached to the bottom surface of the pad. The elevational element provides the mop with the ability to pivot relative the surface to be cleaned. This cleaning implement is used in synergy with a disposable absorbent cleaning pad engaging the elevational element.

Claims

1. A cleaning implement for hard surface cleaning comprising:

(a) a handle;

(b) a mop head pivotably attached to said handle, said mop head having a bottom surface;

(c) at least one elevational element attached to said bottom surface such that said mop head is capable of pivoting relative the surface to be cleaned; and

wherein said elevational element is substantially centered on said bottom surface; and

(d) an absorbent cleaning pad engaging said elevational element and removably attachable to said mop head.

2. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the width of said elevational element is smaller than the width of said mop head.

3. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the length of said elevational element is smaller than the length of said mop head.

4. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein the edges of said elevational element are either squared, rounded, angled, textured, smooth or any combination thereof.

5. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said elevational element is generally non-compressible.

6. The cleaning implement of claim 1 wherein said elevational element is generally compressible.

7. The cleaning implement of claim 1 further comprising a second elevational element attached to the first elevational element.

8. The cleaning implement of claim 7 wherein the width of said second elevational element is smaller than the width of the width of said first elevational element.

9. The cleaning implement of claim 7 wherein the thickness of said second elevational element is smaller than the thickness of said first elevational element.

15. The cleaning element according to claim 1 wherein said absorbent cleaning pad further comprises at least a functional cuff attached to said pad, said cuff comprising a cuff material and having an inner surface and an outer surface capable of contacting a surface to be cleaned wherein the ratio of the glide force resulting from the contact of the inner surface of said cuff material against itself relative to the glide force resulting from the contact of the outer surface of said cuff material against the material of the surface to be cleaned is smaller than 1.

10. A cleaning implement for cleaning floors comprising a handle, a mop head pivotably attached to said handle, said mop head having a bottom surface, a first and a second elevational element attached to said bottom surface such that said mop head is capable of pivoting, relative the surface to be cleaned, and an absorbent cleaning pad wherein said elevational elements are capable of increasing the absorptive efficiency of said cleaning pad.

11. The cleaning implement of claim 10 wherein said elevational element are capable of increasing the absorptive efficiency of said cleaning pad by at least 10 percent.

12. The cleaning implement of claim 11 wherein said elevational elements are capable of increasing the absorptive efficiency of said cleaning pad by at least 15 percent.

13. The cleaning implement of claim 12 wherein said elevational elements are capable of increasing the absorptive efficiency of said cleaning pad by at least 20 percent.

14. A cleaning implement for cleaning floors comprising a handle, a mop head pivotably attached to said handle, said mop head having a bottom surface, a first elevational element attached to said bottom surface and a second elevational element attached to said first elevational element such that said mop head is capable of pivoting relative the surface to be cleaned, and an absorbent cleaning pad wherein said first and second elevational elements are capable of increasing the absorptive efficiency of said cleaning pad.

16. A cleaning implement for hard surface cleaning comprising:

(a) a handle;

(b) a mop head pivotably attached to said handle, said mop head having a pad forming a bottom surface;

(c) at least one elevational element attached to said bottom surface of said pad such that said mop head is capable of pivoting relative a surface to be cleaned; and

(d) an absorbent cleaning pad engaging said elevational element and removably attachable to said mop head wherein said absorbent cleaning pad further comprises at least a functional cuff attached to said pad, said cuff comprising a cuff material and having an inner surface and an outer surface capable of contacting a surface to be cleaned wherein the ratio of the glide force resulting from the contact of the inner surface of said cuff material against itself relative to the glide force resulting from the contact of the outer surface of said cuff material against the material of the surface to be cleaned is smaller than 1.

17. The cleaning implement of claim 16 wherein the width of said elevational element is smaller than the width of said mop head.

18. The cleaning implement of claim 16 wherein the length of said elevational element is smaller than the length of said mop head.

19. The cleaning implement of claim 16 wherein the edges of said elevational element are either squared, rounded, angled, textured, smooth or any combination thereof.

20. The cleaning implement of claim 16 wherein said elevational element is generally non-compressible.

21. The cleaning implement of claim 16 wherein said elevational element is generally compressible.