Cleaning attachment for converting a cleaning implement to a mop

• US 7,458,128 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Watch Hill Harbor Technologies
• Original Assignee: Watch Hill Harbor Technologies
• Inventors: Smith, James A., Murphy, Betty J.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUIDOTTI, LAURA COLE
• Application Number:
  US10/737,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20040158951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 152/47, 151/049.3, 151/049.4, 152/28, 152/091, 152/101
• US Class Current: 15/247
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0055 Brushes combined with other articles normally separate from the brushing process, e.g. combs, razors, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 17/08 Other accessories, e.g. scrapers, rubber buffers for preventing damage to furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/302 Broom
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/20 Mops
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/44 Securing scouring-cloths to the brush or like body of the implement

Abstract

Various forms of cleaning attachments are described for converting a cleaning implement to a mop. In one form the attachment is a combination wipe and attachment wherein at least a portion of the attachment is made of an absorbent material so that the attachment itself can function as a wipe. In another form of the invention a wipe is detachably mounted to the cover portion of the attachment by reusable mounting structure located on at least one of the side walls of the cover. Various forms of pouches or containers are also described for containing a cleaning solution or other added ingredients which may form part of the attachment by the container of pouch being secured to the attachment.

Claims

1. A combination wipe and attachment for converting a cleaning implement to a mop, comprising a flexible cover, said cover in its flat unassembled condition having a first end and a second end, a continuous intermediate section between said first end and said second end, said second end terminating in a U-shaped outer edge and being bifurcated to create a pair of spaced outwardly extending flaps with an open area of sufficient width between said flaps whereby said flaps are maintained completely spaced apart and out of contact with each other in both the assembled and the unassembled conditions of said cover, said cover having an inner surface and an outer surface, said intermediate section including a central section between said first end and said second end, fastening structure non-detachably on said inner surface of said flaps, complementary fastening structure non-detachably on said outer surface of said first end, said fastening structure and said complementary fastening structure being located for engagement when said cover is folded around a cleaning head of a cleaning implement to form a closed loop around the cleaning head with said flaps being outwardly of and secured to said first end whereby said open area between said flaps is adapted to accommodate a handle extending outwardly from the cleaning head, said loop having a top and a bottom, and said central section being at said bottom of said loop remote from said secured first end and flaps at said top of said loop, said intermediate section having a first contact portion on one side of said loop adjacent to said central section, said intermediate section having a second contact portion on an opposite side of said loop adjacent to said central section, each of said first contact portion and said second contact portion being made of absorbent material to provide a cleaning area on each side of said loop at said bottom of said loop whereby the mounting of said attachment to a cleaning implement converts the cleaning implement to a mop, said intermediate section having side edges whereby said loop has two opposite sets of side edges, and one of said sets of side edges being longer than the other of said sets of side edges whereby said central section is slanted to conform to a slanted shape of the cleaning implement.

2. The combination of claim 1 including dispensing structure in said cleaning area of at least one side of said loop for dispensing an added ingredient.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said central section is made of absorbent material whereby said contact portions are integral with each other to form a single continuos cleaning area, said dispensing structure being a pad mounted to said cover in said single continuous cleaning area, and said pad containing said added ingredient.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said pad is located against said inner surface within said loop with said cover disposed outwardly of said pad, and said pad extending from said one side of said loop to said opposite side of said loop across said central section.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said pad is located against said outer surface outside of said loop, and said pad extending from said one side of said loop to said opposite side of said loop across said central section.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein said pad is located on said one side of said loop and does not extend to said opposite side of said loop with the combined thickness of said pad and said loop on said one side being greater than on said opposite side whereby said cleaning area on opposite side of said loop may function as a wipe.

7. The combination of claim 3 wherein said pad is a coating non-detachably mounted to said cover.

8. The combination of claim 2 wherein said dispensing structure is a flexible pouch mounted to one of said sides of said loop, said pouch containing said added ingredient, and said pouch having a one-way valve in an outer wall thereof to dispense said added ingredient when pressure is applied to said pouch.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said pouch is detachably mounted to said cover.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said intermediate section has side edges whereby said loop has two opposite sets of side edges, and each of said sets of side edges having supplemental fastening structure to secure said sets of said edges together.

11. The combination of claim 1 in further combination with a cleaning implement having a cleaning head and a handle, and said cover being mounted around said cleaning head with said handle extending outwardly from said cleaning head through said open area between said flaps.

12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said flaps and open area are confined to a terminal region of said second end which extends less than half the length of said second end, said first end having a pair of opposite side edges, said second end having a pair of opposite side edges disposed toward said side edges of said first end when said cover is in the form of a closed loop with said side edges being free of attachment to each other inwardly of the location of said flaps.

13. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first end and said second end are non-symmetrically shaped with respect to each other with said first end being continuous across its outer region free of flaps and free of an open area therebetween to differ from said second end having said flaps and open area therebetween.

14. The combination of claim 2 wherein said entire cover is made of said absorbent material to provide a single continuous cleaning area extending from said one side of said loop to said opposite side of said 1oop, and said cover being impregnated throughout with said added ingredient to comprise said dispensing structure.

15. A combination wipe and attachment for converting a cleaning implement to a mop, comprising a flexible cover, said cover in its flat unassembled condition having a first end and a second end, a continuous intermediate section between said first end and said second end, said second end being bifurcated to create a pair of spaced outwardly extending flaps with an open area between said flaps, said cover having an inner surface and an outer surface, said intermediate section including a central section between said first end and said second end, fastening structure on said inner surface of said flaps, complementary fastening structure on said outer surface of said first end, said fastening structure and said complementary fastening structure being located for engagement when said cover is folded around a cleaning head of a cleaning implement to form a closed loop around the cleaning head with said flaps being outwardly of and secured to said first end whereby said open area between said flaps is adapted to accommodate a handle extending outwardly from the cleaning head, said loop having a top and a bottom, and said central section being at said bottom of said loop remote from said secured first end and flaps at said top of said loop, said intermediate section having a first contact portion on one side of said loop adjacent to said central section, said intermediate section having a second contact portion on an opposite side of said loop adjacent to said central section, each of said first contact portion and said second contact portion being made of absorbent material to provide a cleaning area on each side of said loop at said bottom of said loop whereby the mounting of said attachment to a cleaning implement converts the cleaning implement to a mop, said intermediate section having side edges whereby said loop has two opposite sets of side edges, one of said sets of side edges being longer than the other of said sets of side edges whereby said bottom of said loop is slanted to conform to a slanted shape of the cleaning implement, and said side edges of said intermediate section being of non-symmetrical shape with respect to each other when said cover is in said unassembled condition.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said longer side edge is outwardly bulged and said other side edge is substantially straight.

17. A cleaning attachment for converting a cleaning implement to a mop, comprising a flexible cover, said cover in its flat unassembled condition having a first end and a second end, a continuous intermediate section between said first end and said second end, said second end terminating in a U-shaped outer edge and being bifurcated to create a pair of spaced outwardly extending flaps with an open area of sufficient width between said flaps whereby said flaps are maintained completely spaced apart and out of contact with each other in both the assembled and the unassembled conditions of said cover, said cover having an inner surface and an outer surface, said intermediate section including a central section between said first end and said second end, fastening structure non-detachably on said inner surface of said flaps, complementary fastening structure nondetachably on said outer surface of said first end, said fastening structure and said complementary fastening structure being located for engagement when said cover is folded around a cleaning head of a cleaning implement to form a closed loop around the cleaning head with said flaps being outwardly of and secured to said first end whereby said open area between said flaps is adapted to accommodate a handle extending outwardly from the cleaning head, said loop having a top and a bottom, said loop having first and second side walls formed by said intermediate section and separated from each other by said central section, reusable mounting structure on said outer surface on said first side wall and further reusable mounting structure on said outer surface of said cover, and said central section being at said bottom of said loop remote from said secured first end and flaps at said top of said loop with said reusable mounting structure and said further reusable mounting structure exposed at said outer surface to detachably mount a detached wipe at said first side wall of said loop to convert the cleaning implement to a mop and to detachably remove the wipe after use whereby a different non-detached wipe may be selectively mounted to said outer surface , said intermediate section having side edges whereby said loop has two opposite sets of side edges, and one of said sets of side edges being longer than the other of said sets of side edges whereby said central section is slanted to conform to a slanted shape of the cleaning implement.

18. The attachment of claim 17 wherein said further reusable mounting structure is on said first wall whereby a wipe may be mounted to said cover confined to said first wall.

19. The attachment of claim 17 wherein said further reusable mounting structure is on said central section whereby a wipe may be mounted to said cover on said first wall extending to said central section.

20. The attachment of claim 17 wherein said further reusable mounting structure is on said outer surface of said second wall whereby a wipe may be mounted to said cover to both of said walls and across said central section.

21. The attachment of claim 20 wherein a pouch is mounted to said first side wall above said reusable mounting structure, said pouch containing an added ingredient, said pouch having an outer wall remote from said cover, and said outer wall of said pouch having a one-way valve to dispense said added ingredient when pressure is applied to said pouch.

22. The attachment of claim 17 wherein a pouch is mounted to one of said side walls, said pouch containing an added ingredient, said pouch having an outer wall remote from said one of said side walls, and a one-way valve in said pouch outer wall to dispense said added ingredient when pressure is applied to said pouch.

23. The attachment of claim 22 wherein said pouch is detachably mounted to said cover.

24. The attachment of claim 17 wherein intermediate section has side edges whereby said loop has two opposite sets of side edges, and each of said sets of side edges having supplemental fastening structure to secure said sets of said edges together.

25. The attachment of claim 17 in combination with a wipe detachably mounted to said reusable mounting structure and to said further reusable mounting structure.

26. The attachment of claim 25 in further combination with a cleaning implement having a cleaning head and a handle, and said cover being mounted around said cleaning head with said handle extending outwardly from said cleaning head through said open area between said flaps.

27. The combination of claim 17 wherein said flaps and open area are confined to a terminal region of said second end which extends less than half the length of said second end, said first end having a pair of opposite side edges, said second end having a pair of opposite side edges disposed toward said side edges of said first end when said cover is in the form of a closed loop with said side edges being free of attachment to each other inwardly of the location of said flaps.

28. The combination of claim 17 wherein said first end and said second end are non-symmetrically shaped with respect to each other with said first end being continuous across its outer region free of flaps and free of an open area therebetween to differ from said second end having said flaps and open area therebetween.